Taoyuan County Martyrs' Shrine

Taoyuan County Martyrs' Shrine

Taoyuan County Martyrs' Shrine is a cultural tourism attraction.

Taoyuan Martyrs Shrine

Reason to visit: The only fully preserved Japanese Shinto shrine architecture

Taoyuan County Martyrs' Shrine was originally built as the Taoyuan Shrine by the Japanese, located at No. 200, Section 3, Chenggong Road, Taoyuan City, Taoyuan County, Taiwan. During the Japanese colonial period, the colonial government implemented a policy of “one shrine per town or village” in Taiwan, attempting to replace the central spiritual role of temples with Shinto shrines. Under this policy, Japan built approximately 200 shrines of various sizes across Taiwan, and Taoyuan Shrine was one of them.

Taoyuan County Martyrs' Shrine was completed on June 10, 1938. In addition to enshrining the Three Gods of Pioneering (Dakokuten, Oomononushi, and Sukunabikona), Prince Kitashirakawa Yoshihisa, it also venerated Toyouke-no-Omikami, the deity of abundant harvests, and Emperor Meiji. After the severance of diplomatic relations between Taiwan and Japan, the government issued an order to demolish relics from the Japanese colonial period in Taiwan that exhibited a sense of Japanese imperial superiority, explicitly stating that Japanese shrines should be removed immediately. Most shrines of various sizes across Taiwan were destroyed under this directive, but Taoyuan Shrine is the only one that has been fully preserved. The shrine was converted into a Martyrs' Shrine in the 35th year of the Republic of China (1946). In 1985, there was a decision to demolish and rebuild the Martyrs' Shrine, but after opposition from various parties, it was ultimately preserved and renovated according to its original design, remaining to this day.