Wuchang Temple

Wuchang Temple is located in Jiji Township, Nantou County, and serves as an important religious center for the local community. The main deity enshrined is Xuantian Shangdi (the Dark Heavenly Emperor). Its history dates back to the Japanese colonial period in 1903, when local gentry such as Yang Tianshou, Chen Yusheng, and Chen Yaxing raised funds to invite a statue of the deity from Nanyan Temple on Mount Wudang in Hubei. In 1923, the temple was officially established.

In the 1990s, local notable Huang Chaodian donated land to promote the expansion of the temple, and a new temple was completed in 1999. However, in September of the same year, the 921 Earthquake caused Wuchang Temple to collapse instantly. Fortunately, the deity statue was rescued by worshippers without damage. After the earthquake, the collapsed old temple was preserved in its original location as a memorial site to the disaster. In 2022, it was officially registered as a historic site, and the following year its name was corrected to “Ruins of the Old Wuchang Temple.” The new temple was rebuilt in front of the original site and held its enshrinement ceremony in 2013.

In front of the temple, across the Qingshui River, stands a distinctive Taishun Covered Bridge. This bridge was a gift symbolizing cultural exchange from Zhejiang Province, China, modeled after the Beijian Bridge of Zhejiang, and was completed in 2019. The entire bridge is built with a pure wooden structure, without the use of any nails or metal fasteners. At its center is a Temple of Yue Lao (the God of Marriage), and visitors can enjoy a unique view of both the new and old Wuchang Temples from the bridge.