Tainan Shrine

Shinto shrine in Japan

Tainan Shrine (Japanese: 台南神社, romanizedtainan jinja) , was a Shinto shrine built by the Empire of Japan in Taiwan. It was associated with imperialism and State Shinto rather than local belief in Shintoism.[1]: 30  The shrine was founded in 1920 and expanded in 1925. Its main deity was Prince Kitashirakawa.[1]: 38 ,[2] who died of malaria during the Japanese invasion of Taiwan.[2] He was enshrined in many shrines across Taiwan, including the Taiwan Grand Shrine.[3]

Tainan Jinja

台南神社

Affiliation shinto
Deity Prince Kitashirakawa Yoshihisa
Year consecrated 1920


During that time, the government forced people to visit shrines instead of visiting them voluntarily.[1]: 38 . The Tainan Shrine organized an elaborate festival every January.[2]

References change

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Nakajima, Michio (2010). "Shinto Deities that Crossed the Sea: Japan's "Overseas Shrines," 1868 to 1945". Japanese Journal of Religious Studies. 37 (1): 21–46. ISSN 0304-1042. JSTOR 27822898.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 Operations, United States Office of the Chief of Naval (1944). Taiwan (Formosa).: Tainan Province. Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Navy Department.
  3. Han Cheung (26 May 2019). "Taiwan in Time: The prince who became a god". Taipei Times.