Dashiyie Temple. Historical Background: Construction Date: The exact construction date is unknown, rebuilt in the 12th year of Taisho (1923). Main Deity: Guanyin Bodhisattva (Dashiyie). This temple was built. Historical Background: Construction Date: The exact construction date is unknown, rebuilt in the 12th year of Taisho (1923). Main Deity: Guanyin Bodhisattva (Dashiyie). The origin of this temple's construction cannot be verified, possibly dating back to the Qianlong era. In the 39th year of Meiji (1906), the Meishan earthquake completely destroyed the temple. By the 12th year of Taisho (1923), devotees pooled funds to rebuild it. Four main deities from temples in the Minxiong area that were also destroyed in the earthquake – Dashiyie Temple, Qingcheng Palace (Mazu), Kaizhang Shengwang Temple (Chen Yuanguang), and Kaitai Shengwang Temple (Zheng Chenggong) – were enshrined together. However, due to Japan's colonial religious policies, it had to be rebuilt under the name "Ciji Temple." In the 76th year of the Republic of China (1987), the original temple name was restored. Dashiyie, also known as Dashiyie Bo or Dashiyie Gong, has many origin stories: One theory states that Dashiyie was a ghost king later subdued by Guanyin Bodhisattva; another suggests that Guanyin Bodhisattva transformed into the appearance of a ghost king to subdue demons and ghosts. The county gazetteer records that people from Quanzhou in Beigang and Zhangzhou in Minxiong engaged in a fierce conflict over a trivial matter involving a coin, resulting in heavy casualties. Afterward, both sides agreed to appease the spirits of the deceased through a ghost festival, with Dashiyie representing the spirits of the departed. There is also a theory that due to a plague, early settlers worshipped Dashiyie, whom they believed in from their hometown, hoping to quell the disease. Although these explanations are inconsistent, they actually reflect the temple's role in resolving conflicts and disputes.
Address: 嘉義縣民雄鄉嘉義縣民雄鄉中樂村中樂路81號
Hours: 00:00–23:59
Chiayi County