aeeble

Taichung Martyrs’ Shrine was, during the Japanese era, the second-generation Taichū Shrine; in 1942 it was relocated from Shintomichō (Taichung Park) to Niitakachō Water-Source Park (today’s Taichung Martyrs’ Shrine and Confucius Temple area) and promoted to a national-ranked minor shrine. After Taiwan’s retrocession in 1945, Taichū Shrine was directly converted into Taichung City Martyrs’ Shrine. [Pailou] A three-bay, four-pillar, seven-roof concrete structure crowned with blue-glazed tiles; the central tablet reads “Martyrs’ Shrine,” flanked by “Achieving Benevolence” and “Choosing Righteousness,” forming the ceremonial gateway for visitors. [Shanmen] Roofed with blue-glazed tiles, its ridge adorned with immortal and beast figurines; the beams and tie-beams bear Qing-style polychrome paintings. In the center stands a deep-red cypress double-door studded with ninety-eight bronze nails and fitted with beast-head rings. The couplet on either side reads: “Vital energy pervades the divine; lofty deeds and mighty merits are venerated for ten-thousand ages. Great names illuminate the cosmos; those who achieved benevolence and chose righteousness enjoy eternal offerings.” The grandeur is overwhelming. [Front Hall] The roof is covered with yellow-glazed tiles decorated with immortals and running beasts; the painted beams include hemp-leaf heads, overlord fists, and sparrow braces. Two hexagonal pavilions stand to the left and right, their yellow-glazed tile roofs crowned with finials, hip beasts, and running beasts. The architraves display raised-powder polychrome paintings with lotus-and-ruyi scrolls in the panels; inside the pavilions, clouds are painted in mitsubishi motifs, and cypress sparrow braces are carved beneath the beams. [Main Hall] Modeled on a Qing northern-palace style in concrete, the hall is roofed with yellow-glazed tiles, its ridge set with immortal and beast figurines. Deep-red cypress lattice doors and windows stand out against white-cement, dressed-granite colonnades. Balustrades of dragon-head ruyi and treasure-vase design surround the hall. The altar platform is paved with dark-red granite; the interior floor is marble covered with crimson carpet, and granite slabs line the walls, lending an air of serene solemnity.