aeeble

The full name of the Shihba Wanggong Temple is Qianhua Shihba Wanggong Temple, with Qianhua referring to the location in Qianhua Village, Shimen District. Locals call it "A-li-peng". The Shihba Wanggong Temple, which has been prosperous for a long time, is said to have been built during the Tongzhi era of the Qing dynasty. A sailboat carrying 17 Fuzhou merchants and a dog was on its way to Putuoshan in Zhejiang when it capsized and drifted to Qianhua Village in Shimen. Unfortunately, all personnel on board had drowned, except for the dog, which was lucky to have survived. After being discovered by a local resident with the surname Lian, the dog was buried together with its owners at the foot of a mountain. Later, the dog also died and was buried together with its owners. Every year during festivals, local residents would go to the burial site to burn incense and worship. Over time, people began to refer to the deities as "Shihba Wanggong" and worship them. According to legend, after the burial, when local residents encountered difficulties at sea, they would often encounter the spirit of Shihba Wanggong, who would come to their rescue. Therefore, the people collectively raised funds to build a small temple to worship them. After the temple was built, there were even more instances of the spirit's appearance, and the number of worshippers gradually expanded to the entire northern coast, eventually becoming a well-known temple in northern Taiwan. The Shihba Wanggong Temple is a joint worship of humans and dogs. In folk impressions, dogs are often seen as loyal, so many people believe that as long as they sincerely worship the dog, they will gain its loyalty and protection. The legend of Shihba Wanggong has made this small temple by the mountain a must-visit tourist attraction for travelers on the northern coast. People come to visit, some to explore the legend, others to seek blessings and protection, and of course, some are attracted by the fragrance of the temple's specialty food - zongzi (glutinous rice dumplings). According to legend, when the sailors were sailing at sea, they would carry zongzi to worship and pray for peace. The combination of peanuts, pickled vegetables, mushrooms, and braised pork may seem ordinary, but it is surprisingly delicious, making it a must-have for visitors. The delicious zongzi has even become a specialty food in the Shimen area, and can be bought on the streets of Shimen District. Source: North Coast and Guanyinshan Scenic Area