The Kaohsiung Martyrs' Shrine () is a martyrs' shrine in

Gushan District Gushan District () is district of Kaohsiung City, Taiwan. Administrative divisions The district consists of Gufeng, Xiongfeng, Qianfeng, Guangrong, Minzu, Neiwei, Jianguo, Zhongzheng, Zijiang, Longjing, Zhengde, Pinghe, Minjiang, Housheng, Longzi ...

Kaohsiung Kaohsiung, officially Kaohsiung City, is a special municipality located in southern Taiwan. It ranges from the coastal urban center to the rural Yushan Range with an area of . Kaohsiung City has a population of approximately 2.73 million p ...

Taiwan Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is a country in East Asia. The main geography of Taiwan, island of Taiwan, also known as ''Formosa'', lies between the East China Sea, East and South China Seas in the northwestern Pacific Ocea ...

History

Empire of Japan

The site was originally established as Takao Kotohira Shrine during the

Japanese rule of Taiwan The Geography of Taiwan, island of Taiwan, together with the Penghu, Penghu Islands, became an annexed territory of the Empire of Japan in 1895, when the Qing dynasty ceded Taiwan Province, Fujian-Taiwan Province in the Treaty of Shimonoseki a ...

in 1910 dedicated to Omononushi-no-Mikoto and Emperor Sutoku. In 1920, government of

Takao Prefecture was one of the administrative divisions of Taiwan during the Taiwan under Japanese rule, Japanese rule. The prefecture consisted of modern-day Kaohsiung City and Pingtung County. Population Administrative divisions Cities and district ...

applied to the Taiwan Governor-General’s Office central government in

Taihoku Prefecture Taihoku Prefecture (臺北州; ''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. The main geography of Taiwan, island of Taiwan, also known as ''Formosa'', lies between the East China Sea, East and South China Seas in the northwestern Pacific Ocea ...

, 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. With population of China, a population exceeding 1.4 billion, it is the list of countries by population (United Nations), second-most populous country after ...

, triggering an outcry and the demolition of the shrine. In 1973, Kaohsiung Mayor Wang Yu-yuin 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 Martyrs 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 Zhongsha ...

Taipei , nickname = The City of Azaleas , image_map = , map_caption = , pushpin_map = Taiwan#Asia#Pacific Ocean#Earth , coordinates = , subdivision_type = Country ...

, 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 A council is a group of people who come together to consult, deliberate, or make decisions. A council may function as a legislature, especially at a town, city or county/shire level, but most legislative bodies at the state/provincial or nation ...

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 ( ) was an Dynasties of China, imperial dynasty of China that ruled from 960 to 1279. The dynasty was founded by Emperor Taizu of Song, who usurped the throne of the Later Zhou dynasty and went on to conquer the rest of the Fiv ...

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 Kaohsiung Metro () is a rapid transit and light rail system covering the metropolitan area of Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Its rapid transit network is known as Kaohsiung Mass Rapid Transit System or Kaohsiung Rapid Transit (KRT). Construction of the 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