Kagi Shrine

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Chiayi City Historical Relic Museum.

Kagi Shrine (嘉義神社, kagi jinja^?) was a Shinto shrine located in Chiayi Park, in Chiayi city (previously 山子頂, Kagi city, Tainan Prefecture during Japanese rule.)

The shrine was built on October 28, 1915 (Taishō 4) facing south but later altered in 1942 (Shōwa 17) to face west. The shrine was originally categorized as a prefectural shrine in 1917 (Taishō 6) but elevated to small shrine rank in 1944 (Shōwa 19). Prince Yoshihisa, Ōkunitama no Mikoto (大国魂命), Ōnamuchi no Mikoto (大己貴命), Sukunahikona no Mikoto (少彦名命) and Amaterasu were enshrined as deities.

The Honden {Main Hall} was turned into a Martyrs' Shrine by the Republic of China government after World War II but was destroyed in a fire on April 24, 1994. The main office and purification hall now serve as the Chiayi City Historical Relics Museum. The shrine was categorized as a small shrine (国幣小社 kokuhei shōsha).

In 1998 the Chiayi Tower was built in place of the main hall, the design was inspired by an indigeneous mythological tale about the creator of the world. In Chinese the tower is called Sun Shooting Tower (射日塔 shè rì tá) and houses an observation deck.

The existing main office (社務所 shamusho) and purification hall (斎館 saikan) are wooden structures built in the classical Japanese Shoin-zukuri architectural style and underwent reparation work before being opened to the general public on January 5, 2001 as the Chiayi City Historical Relics Museum. The area became part of Chiayi Park and the Temizuya (Purification Pavilion), Sandō (Pathway), stone tōrō lantern, and Koma inu statues amongst other things still exist today.

[edit] Gallery

Chiayi Water.JPG Temizuya (Purification Pavilion).	Chiayi Depot.JPG Shed for storing ritual equipment.	Chiayi Korea Dog.JPG Koma inu statue painted with the Sanskrit 'A' (狛犬「阿」)	Chiayi Martyrs' Shrine Memorial Gate
Chiayi Lantern1.JPG Stone tōrō lantern，built in 1920 (Taisho 9).	Chiayi Lantern2.JPG Another stone tōrō lantern.	Chiayi Sun.JPG Chiayi Tower.	Chiayi Tower，a Martyrs' Shrine is located below the structure.