Chiayi Shrine Chozuya — The Chozuya of Chiayi Shrine, which had been without water for nearly half a century, has been restored! Located opposite the Chiayi City Historical Archives Museum, the Chozuya, the history of Chiayi Shrine originates

Chiayi Shrine Chozuya. The Chozuya of Chiayi Shrine, which had been without water for nearly half a century, has been restored! Located opposite the Chiayi City Historical Archives Museum, the Chozuya, the history of Chiayi Shrine originates. The Chozuya of Chiayi Shrine, which had been without water for nearly half a century, has been restored! Located opposite the Chiayi City Historical Archives Museum, the history of Chiayi Shrine originates from 1911. In that year, the Japanese authorities actively planned the construction of Chiayi Shrine to promote Japanese State Shinto and the movement of assimilation into Japanese culture. Chiayi Shrine had two generations. The first generation shrine was inaugurated in 1915 and was located to the right front of the current Sun-Shooting Tower. Due to the large number of visitors, the space was insufficient, so a second generation shrine was built. The entire historical site includes the ruins of the first generation shrine, the repository for ritual objects, the Chozuya, the rest house (gathering hall), the purification hall, and attached facilities such as the shrine office. The Chozuya of the second generation Chiayi Shrine was inaugurated in 1945. It is an independent four-pillar structure with an octagonal overflow tank in the center, containing a stone basin and long-handled ladles, for visitors to wash their hands and rinse their mouths to purify their bodies and minds. To protect the historical site, tap water has been introduced and equipped with sensors for automatic water dispensing, allowing visitors to experience the purification ritual of washing hands and rinsing mouths when visiting Japanese shrines. It is hoped that with the restoration of water, more people will gain a deeper understanding of the historical culture of shrines when visiting the Chiayi City Historical Archives Museum. An explanatory sign has been installed in the Chozuya to inform visitors about the steps for using the Chozuya: (1) Use the right hand to take water with the long-handled ladle (only once per person). Address: 嘉義市東區公園街42號 Hours: 00:00–23:59 Chiayi