Taoyuan deputy mayor pledges heritage survey and municipal status for historic pavilion

Taoyuan Deputy Mayor Su Chun-pin attended the Longtan St. Stacking Ritual in Taoyuan on the 13th and officially declared that the Longtan St. Stacking Pavilion has stood for 150 years, announcing that the city government will launch a systematic cultural asset survey and research initiative. Located in the central plaza of Longtan District, the St. Stacking Pavilion was originally a ritual structure spontaneously built by the local community during the Qing Dynasty to enshrine the sacred deities revered by local believers. Over the years, whether through farming season rituals, community blessing ceremonies, or children's traditional theatrical performances, the pavilion has served as the core gathering point, forming a uniquely localized folk culture circle.

The history of the St. Stacking Pavilion dates back to the mid-Qing Dynasty, when the Longtan area was sparsely populated and the community depended on agriculture and forestry resources for survival. To pray for favorable weather and social tranquility, local elders and believers jointly built the pavilion as a venue for worship and prayers. With urbanization and transportation developments during the Japanese colonial period, many traditional buildings were demolished or remodeled; only the St. Stacking Pavilion has survived to this day due to its deep-rooted faith and continuous functional use. Its wooden frame style, carved decorations, and roof tiles all retain traces of traditional craftsmanship, making it an important case study for researching local Taiwanese architecture and folk beliefs.

Since the Ministry of Culture promoted the Cultural Heritage Preservation Act in 2002, it has encouraged counties and cities to apply for the registration of buildings, sites, and folk activities of historical value as municipal or national assets. In recent years, the Taoyuan City Government has completed surveys on multiple historical sites and traditional settlements, establishing the "Taoyuan Cultural Heritage Map" platform. This upcoming survey targeting the St. Stacking Pavilion will focus primarily on historical documents, oral traditions, and architectural surveying and mapping, while inviting local elders, scholars, and artisans to jointly participate to ensure the completeness and objectivity of the survey results. If successfully designated as a municipal folk tradition, the pavilion will not only secure statutory maintenance funding but can also be incorporated into education and tourism resource development plans.

The preservation and revitalization of folk traditions often involve community identity and economic benefits. For the residents of Longtan, the St. Stacking Pavilion is not merely a space for worship, but also a repository of emotions passed down through generations. If officially registered as a municipal folk tradition, it will boost local residents' pride in their own culture while attracting outside tourists to participate in rituals and experience traditional activities, thereby driving the development of local snacks and handicraft industries. Past similar cases, such as the Hakka Matsu Temple in Beipu, Hsinchu, have successfully created a diversified model combining religion, tourism, and local creativity through cultural asset recognition and revitalization, serving as a reference for other townships and districts.

However, the preservation of cultural assets also faces challenges from resource allocation and modernization shocks. While promoting the survey of the St. Stacking Pavilion, the city government must balance structural safety reinforcement, the rational planning of ritual activities, and the prevention of over-commercialization from eroding its original religious significance. Relevant authorities stated that they will formulate a long-term maintenance plan based on the principle of "preservation first, revitalization second," and establish a dedicated management committee to allow local community groups and government departments to jointly participate in decision-making, ensuring that traditional culture retains its core values amidst changes.

In conclusion, the 150-year history of the Longtan St. Stacking Pavilion is not only a testament to local faith but also a microcosm of the diversity of Taiwan's folk culture. If the cultural asset survey initiated by the city government is successfully completed and the pavilion is registered as a municipal folk tradition, it will bring institutionalized protection and revitalization opportunities to the Longtan community, while providing valuable cases and experiences for traditional culture preservation across Taiwan. In the future, with the publication of the survey report and the promotion of subsequent policies, it is anticipated that the St. Stacking Pavilion will continue to serve as an important stage for the lives and beliefs of Longtan residents while preserving its historical appearance.