Hongmaogang Baoan Temple

Located near the Kaohsiung Airport, the Hongmaogang Baoan Temple is a fascinating blend of Taiwanese folk religion and Japanese influence. The temple features Japanese-style architecture, setting it apart from typical Taiwanese temples. The Temple plays the Japanese naval march, “Gunkan kōshinkyoku,” instead of traditional Buddhist chants; it also prominently displays the Rising Sun Flag—a controversial symbol for some—underscoring its deep connections to Japan. Visitors are invited to worship in either Taiwanese or Japanese styles.

In 2022, the temple gained widespread attention for erecting a bronze statue of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, inscribed with the phrase “Taiwan’s forever friend.” This act highlighted the temple’s role in fostering Taiwan-Japan relations. The following year, Abe’s widow, Akie Abe, visited the temple to pay her respects. Thanks to its unique connection with Japan, the temple has become a popular off-the-beaten-path destination for Japanese tourists.

The most legendary part lies in the temple’s unique and supernatural history. It was originally founded as a Yin Miao—a temple dedicated to wandering spirits—in the now-disappeared community of Hongmaogang. It gained new significance in 1946, when local fishermen discovered a skull in the sea. Believed to belong to the captain of “Yomogi / Patrol Boat #38,” a Japanese ship sunk during a 1944 World War II mission, the skull was enshrined as the “Marshal of the Sea.” Alongside it, the locals crafted a warship model based on their imagination.

The temple was relocated to its current location in 2013 due to the expansion of the Port of Kaohsiung. In recent years, a more historically accurate model was added. In 2018, religious ceremonies revealed the spirit’s identity as Captain Takata Matao, and the names of 145 deceased soldiers from the ship were uncovered. The temple became the site of an emotional reunion in August 2023, when Takata’s 81-year-old son visited to pay respects to his father’s enshrined spirit.