Kiirun Jinjya, 台湾台北州基隆市義重町にあった神社
Kiirun Jinjya is a Shinto shrine in Kīrun originally built to protect sailors and the port during Japan's rule over Taiwan. The structure displays traditional Japanese features including red wooden buildings, torii gates, stone lanterns lining the path, and guardian lion-dogs positioned along the hillside approach.
The shrine was built in 1912 during Japan's colonial period as a branch of a famous shrine from Kagawa prefecture in Japan. After World War II, it was transformed from a religious site into a memorial honoring fallen soldiers and is now known as the Keelung Martyrs Shrine.
The shrine retains visible Japanese architectural elements like stone lanterns and guardian lion-dogs from its origins. Today visitors come to honor the fallen and experience how Taiwan's history is marked by different periods layered into one space.
The shrine sits on a hillside with views of the port and is easily reached on foot from Keelung train station. The climb up two sets of stone stairs offers good views of the city and ocean, and the location is close to a popular night market for further exploration.
A large bust of Chiang Kai-shek stands near the shrine entrance with inscriptions honoring him, sparking ongoing discussions about Taiwan's complex history. This monument shows how different periods have added their own symbols to the historical site.
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