Taipower unveils renovated Jinguashi Shinto shrine in New Taipei

2022-09-30

One of Taiwan’s oldest Shinto shrines is now open again after a major revamp. The shrine at Jinguashi in New Taipei was established by Japanese officials in 1898. Taipower has owned the land since the 1980s. The shrine has already been through five renovations, and the latest has turned it into a perfect tourist destination. Let’s head to the mountains of Jiufen for more.

A row of stones form a Japanese-style torii, or sacred gate. Unlike many torii which are painted an extravagant red, this torii in Jinguashi town in Jiufen is all greyscale, creating a calm and reflective atmosphere. The shrine has been empty for five years. After a renovation by Taipower, it’s back to its former majesty.

Tourist
It used to be more dangerous here. It had never been renovated. It was easy to fall while walking here.

In the late 80s, when Taiwan’s mining industries declined, and Taiwan Metals Mining Company closed down, its cultural assets in New Taipei’s Ruifang瑞芳 were given to Taipower. In 2019, an exhibition and light ceremony called “Light up 13 Layer Remains” brought international attention to the heritage sites here. Then Taipower decided to act, focusing on renovating the shrine at Jinguashi.

Chen Shih-cheng
Miner
There used to be grasses all between the pillars. I used to come and pull up the grasses. I think it’s a beautiful thing and very historical. There are more and more hikers here.

Jinguashi shrine was first built in 1898 and altered in 1936. With 124 years’ history, it is Taiwan’s third oldest Shinto shrine. Once a major spiritual site for local people, it was destroyed in World War II. In 2007 it was named an official historical heritage site of New Taipei, although only a few traces of the original shrine remain, such as the torii and stone lanterns.

Tseng Wen-sheng
Taipower provisional chair
The pandemic in 2020 gave us an opportunity to start to consider whether we could do something more, in the gap where there were not quite so many visitors.

With the renovation complete, more memories are also emerging of the long-closed gold mine. Taipower welcomes visitors to Jiufen to appreciate its uniquely Taiwanese stories and history.

石座堆砌日式鳥居金瓜石神社經整修重新開放

2022-09-30

1980年代，台灣礦業沒落，台金公司結束營運後，台電接手管理許多位在新北市瑞芳地區的在地文化資產。其中，擁有124年歷史的金瓜石神社，經過5年整修，終於重新對外開放，一起來看看。

石座堆砌出的日式鳥居，不同別處鮮紅色的視覺衝擊，九份金瓜石的鳥居灰階色調中，帶著一點沉穩。沉寂五年的金瓜石神社，經過台電修復，風華再現。

[[遊客]]
“以前的話就是這邊比較危險，都沒有整建過，走過來這邊很容易掉下去”

1980年代末，台灣礦業沒落，台金公司結束營運後，台電接手在新北瑞芳的文化資產，繼2019年推出點亮十三層遺址，揚名國際後，再度出手，這次將目光放在金瓜石神社的修復。

[[老礦工陳石成]]
“之前樑柱中間都是草，我就來把草拔掉，我想說這是很美的東西，歷史性很好，我看爬山旅客越來越多”

金瓜石神社創建於1898年、並在1936年改建，至今已有124年歷史，是台灣史上第3座神社，曾經作為當地民眾重要的信仰指標，卻因二戰摧毀。2007年被列為新北市定古蹟時，只剩鳥座鳥居、石燈籠等斷垣殘壁。

[[台電代理董事長曾文生]]
“2020年的疫情，也讓我們開始有機會思考說，當金瓜石這邊如果有機會，稍微人潮沒那麼多，那我們是不是可以趁著空檔多做一點什麼”

塵封已久的黃金礦山記憶，隨著古蹟整修，再度被揭開。台電也邀請民眾，有空可以來趟九份，親身感受充滿台灣歷史風味的這座山城。