Tongxiao Shrine is located in the Hutoushan area of Tongxiao Township, Miaoli County, Taiwan, near Hutoushan Park. It was built in 1937 (Showa 12) during the Japanese colonial period and originally belonged to Tongxiao Village, Miaoli District, Hsinchu Prefecture. The shrine was classified as a “mukakusha” (unranked shrine), serving as a local religious center dedicated to Amaterasu Ōmikami, the sun goddess of Shinto, and Prince Kitashirakawa Yoshihisa, a member of the imperial family during the Meiji era.
After its completion, the shrine became a hub for religious and ceremonial activities for the local Japanese community. Following the end of World War II, the worship hall was repurposed as the Tongxiao Martyrs’ Shrine to honor those who died in war, transforming the site into a space of local historical memory in postwar Taiwan.
Today, Tongxiao Shrine still retains key structures including the torii gate, worship hall, approach path, and shrine office, largely preserving its original appearance from the Japanese era. Due to its unique historical background and well-preserved architecture, it was officially registered as a historic building of Miaoli County on November 26, 2002, making it an important site for studying Japanese colonial architecture and religious culture in Taiwan.
