The Kaohsiung Martyrs' Shrine () is a

martyrs' shrine The Martyrs' Shrine, also known as Shrine of the Canadian Martyrs (french: Sanctuaire des martyrs canadiens)is a Roman Catholic church in Midland, Ontario, Canada, which is consecrated to the memory of the Canadian Martyrs, six Jesuit Martyrs an ...

in Gushan District,

Kaohsiung Kaohsiung City (Mandarin Chinese: ; Wade–Giles: ''Kao¹-hsiung²;'' Pinyin: ''Gāoxióng'') is a special municipality located in southern Taiwan. It ranges from the coastal urban center to the rural Yushan Range with an area of . Kaohsi ...

Taiwan Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is a country in East Asia, at the junction of the East and South China Seas in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, with the People's Republic of China (PRC) to the northwest, Japan to the nort ...

History

Empire of Japan

The site was originally established as Takao Kotohira Shrine during the Japanese rule of Taiwan in 1910 dedicated to Omononushi-no-Mikoto and Emperor Sutoku. In 1920, government of Takao Prefecture applied to the Taiwan Governor-General’s Office central government in

Taihoku Prefecture Taihoku Prefecture (台北州; ''Taihoku-shū'') was an administrative division of Taiwan created in 1920, during Japanese rule. The prefecture consisted of modern-day Keelung, New Taipei City, Taipei and Yilan County. Its government office, ...

for additional worshipping of Prince Yoshihisa and renamed the shrine as Takao Shrine.In 1926, upon acquisition of land on the hillside of Shoushan, fundraising was underway for the Shrine relocation, which was completed in 1929 and received the Kensha rank in 1932, officially listed in the Japanese state Shinto system.

Republic of China

In 1946 after the handover of Taiwan from Japan to the

Republic of China Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is a country in East Asia, at the junction of the East and South China Seas in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, with the People's Republic of China (PRC) to the northwest, Japan to the northeast ...

, the shrine was slightly renovated to make it as a martyrs' shrine. In 1972, Japan switch diplomatic relation from

People's Republic of China China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. It is the world's most populous country, with a population exceeding 1.4 billion, slightly ahead of India. China spans the equivalent of five time zones and ...

, triggering an outcry and the demolition of the shrine. In 1973, Kaohsiung Mayor

Wang Yu-yuin Wang may refer to: Names * Wang (surname) (王), a common Chinese surname * Wāng (汪), a less common Chinese surname * Titles in Chinese nobility * A title in Korean nobility * A title in Mongolian nobility Places * Wang River in Thaila ...

initiated the rebuilding of the shrine and it was completed in 1978 with the name Kaohsiung Martyrs' Shrine. The finished designed was modeled in comparison with

National Revolutionary Martyrs' Shrine The National Revolutionary Martyrs' Shrine () is a shrine in Zhongshan District, Taipei, Taiwan, dedicated to the war dead of the Republic of China. Built on Chingshan Mountain and overseeing the Keelung River in Taipei's Zhongshan District ...

Taipei Taipei (), officially Taipei City, is the capital and a special municipality of the Republic of China (Taiwan). Located in Northern Taiwan, Taipei City is an enclave of the municipality of New Taipei City that sits about southwest of the n ...

, added the archive of revolution martyrs' historical artifacts and documents, VIP reception lounge and an office. To date, the Takao Shrine has been almost completely changed with only few remains of stone lanterns. In 2004, it received funds from

Council for Cultural Affairs The Ministry of Culture (MOC, ) is the ministry of the Republic of China (Taiwan) that promotes cultural and creative industries. The ministry also maintains thNational Repository of Cultural Heritage History Established in 1981 by Executive Y ...

Architecture

The main hall of the shrine assembles a traditional Chinese palace with double-hipped roof which is covered with golden glazed tiles. Sculpture of Gods and auspicious animals are placed on the roof ridge. Its structures are well decorated with colored paintings of

Song dynasty The Song dynasty (; ; 960–1279) was an imperial dynasty of China that began in 960 and lasted until 1279. The dynasty was founded by Emperor Taizu of Song following his usurpation of the throne of the Later Zhou. The Song conquered the rest ...

characters. Around the shrine are cloisters made of cement and white artificial stones. In front of the shrine are the stairs made of andesite. It features a viewing platform with LOVE sign in place.

Transportation

The site is accessible within walking distance north of Sizihwan Station of Kaohsiung MRT.

References

External links

高雄市忠烈祠
{{in lang, zh 1978 establishments in Taiwan Buildings and structures in Kaohsiung Martyrs' shrines in Taiwan Gushan District