The religious center of Chiayi City residents
Cheng-Huang is also known as the Town God and symbolizes protection of the local community. Cheng-Huang Temple is the religious center of Chiayi City residents and has been closely connected to the local people since ancient times so there are many believers.
Founded: 54th Year of the Kangxi Era (1715 AD), nearly 300 years ago.
Current Buildings: Reconstruction began in the 11th Year of the Showa Era and was completed in the 15th Year of the Showa Era (1940 AD).
The Cheng-Huang Temple was founded in the 54th Year of the Kangxi Era (1715 AD). Rebuilt in the 10th Year of the Yongzheng Era (1732 AD). By the 29th Year of the Qianlong Era, the temple had become very dilapidated so renovation work was started by a newly appointed local official named Suo-shou Jhang. The current Cheng-Huang Temple was rebuilt by Jin-mu Wang, a craftsman of the Sidi School from Quanzhou. The architecture is characterized by ornate decoration, a grand layout, and unique wood carvings. The octagonal ceiling in the Worship Hall, the gallery at the Main Hall, and the trusses of the anterooms were all made from fitted joints without any metal or nails being used, a testament to the tremendous skill of the craftsmen.
More than ten steles and cultural relics from the Manchu period are preserved within the Cheng-Huang Temple. These 11 precious relics include the only plaque granted by an emperor to a town god temple in Taiwan, a plaque from Te-lu Wang, the instructor of the crown prince, the “Reconstruction of Cheng-Huang Temple” stele erected by Magistrate Suo-shou Jhang, a stele erected by Magistrate Syue-heng Fan to secure funding for ceremonial oil lanterns, a large abacus presented by Dao-nan Gong of Jinjiang, a stele erected by Magistrate Ting-gan Wang for building Yinling Hall, a plaque presented by Feng-cao Su the county educator, and a plaque donated by Commander of Taiwan-Penghu Garrison Kao-yuan Chang and his adjutant Li-te Chou.
Jin-mu Wang, a master craftsman of the Sidi School from Quanzhou supervised the rebuilding of the current temple. The temple is a classical example of street temple architecture and built to high standards. Sanchuan Hall is characterized by its grand appearance and exquisite detailing, the Worship Hall features breathtaking decorative work, while the grand, solemn Main Hall embody the aesthetics of space and order. The decorative stone wall in Worship Hall features lifelike Koji pottery artworks that were created by master craftsmen You Chen-jhuan and Tian-mu Lin. Each craftsmen sought to outdo each other and the result possesses extraordinary artistic value. The painted mural of Door Gods were created by Yu-feng Chen, a famed craftsmen. The idols, ridge ornaments, painted murals, stone carvings, Door Gods, and wooden carvings throughout the temple all show exquisite craftsmanship.
