The Tainan Martyrs' Shrine has the appearance of a traditional Chinese palace-style building. The shrine is not open to the public on a regular basis. During the day, compared to the surrounding ancient temples and historical sites, although there is no incense burning at the Martyrs' Shrine, its solemn and dignified atmosphere is even more prominent. At night, many people come to the area to admire the rare and beautiful night view.
The Martyrs' Shrine was originally the Tainan Shrine. During the Japanese colonial era, Prince Tokugawa came to Taiwan to quell a rebellion and stayed at the home of a wealthy Tainan family, the Wu family. However, in October, he was assassinated. Afterward, high-ranking officials in Tainan decided to convert the Wu family's residence into a shrine to honor Prince Tokugawa and preserve his remains. It wasn't until after World War II, in 1946, that the Tainan Shrine was transformed into the Martyrs' Shrine.
The archway of the shrine is inscribed with the phrase 'Cheng Ren, Qu Yi' (成仁、取義), meaning to sacrifice oneself for a greater cause. The martyrs enshrined here are mostly soldiers, firefighters, and police officers who died in the line of duty. In today's peaceful times, we must be grateful to these heroes because without their sacrifices, we would not have the peace we enjoy now.
Each year, two ceremonies are held at the Martyrs' Shrine: on March 29 (Youth Day) and September 3 (Military Personnel Day). These ceremonies not only mourn the souls of fallen heroes but also offer condolences to the families of military officers who have died in the line of duty over the past six months. Among the martyrs honored here are the 72 martyrs of Huanghuagang and nine anti-Japanese heroes.
