235th Anniversary of Hsinchu's Baozhong Yimin Temple Lai Ching-te: All Hakkas Must Join Forces to Protect Taiwan

Hsinchu's Baozhong Yimin Temple is the most important religious site for Hakka people in northern Taiwan and is home to a Hakka ceremony recognized as a national folk heritage celebration by the Ministry of Culture. Deputy Minister Chou Chiang-chieh of the Hakka Affairs Council (HAC) attended the spring ceremony organized by Baozhong Yimin Temple alongside Vice President Lai Ching-te, Magistrate of Hsinchu County Yang Wen-ke, Mayor of Taoyuan City Chang San-cheng, and other distinguished guests on the morning of March 30. Together, they prayed for seasonable weather, peace, and prosperity in Taiwan.

The temple is not merely a religious site for the Hakka people, but a beacon of faith and unity. Yiminye (義民爺) is the deity representing all civilians who lost their lives while protecting their land (yimin, 義民), enshrined in the temple. Vice President Lai expressed that Yiminye perfectly embodies love for the homeland and comradeship. Camaraderie and courage have been the foundational pillars of every Hakka village across history. Team spirit and pride in one's homeland are important values that should be shared by all Taiwanese.

This year's spring ceremony happened to coincide with the 235th anniversary of Xinpu Township's Baozhong Yiming Temple. Deputy Minister Chou remarked that the 2023 Hakka Expo will be taking place in Taoyuan City this year. President Tsai Ing-wen hopes that the event will highlight the importance and beauty of Hakka culture. It is worth mentioning that the Hakka Expo's Taiwan Pavilion will feature exhibitions for Taiwan's all 14 counties and cities, so that visitors from around the world can witness the unique qualities of Hakkas around Taiwan. In addition to inviting Taoyuan City Government and Hsinchu County Government to assist in organizing the event, everyone should contribute to make Taiwan into the cultural mecca of Hakkas around the world.

Hsinpu's Baozhong Yimin Temple was built in the 55th year of the Qianlong Emperor's reign in the Qing era (1790). With a history of more than 2 centuries, it has been declared a historic monument by the Hsinchu County Government. The ceremony in commemoration of yimin has been held in Baozhong Temple since the 15th year of the Daoguang Emperor's reign in the Qing era (1835), more than 180 years ago. 15 villages in Hsinchu and Taoyuan take turns as organizers of the ceremony, preserving the tradition of rotating as organizers intact—a perfect example of cohesiveness among Hakka people. Such ceremony is the most magnificent religious and cultural event in Hsinchu County. Held on the 20th of the 7th lunar month, the ceremony in commemoration of yimin is also a celebration observed by HAC.