Yimin Ye Loyal Militia Spirits

Yimin Ye refers to the heroic ancestral spirits venerated by Taiwan’s Hakka communities. During the Lin Shuangwen Rebellion of the Qianlong reign (1736–1795) of the Qing dynasty, Hakka loyal militia from the Hsinchu area assisted imperial forces in suppressing the uprising; over two hundred militiamen died in battle and were collectively buried at Fangliao in Xinpuxi. In recognition, the Qianlong Emperor conferred the honorary title Baozhong (‘Praising Loyalty’), prompting the construction of the Baozhong Yimin Temple to enshrine their spirits. Subsequently, Hakka patriots who fell in later conflicts—including inter-clan feuds and the Japanese colonial resistance—were also enshrined there. Every year on the 20th day of the seventh lunar month—the Yimin Festival—the fifteen major villages of the Taoyuan–Hsinchu–Miaoli region take turns hosting a grand festival featuring competitive weighing of ritual pigs and lantern processions along waterways, making it one of northern Taiwan’s largest and most vibrant folk celebrations. The worship of Yimin Ye transcends conventional religious boundaries, embodying the Hakka people’s ethos of defending their homeland and preserving their cultural identity.