During the Qing dynasty，emigrants to Taiwan from Fujian and Guangdong lived separately in their own communities and separatel yworshipped the gods of their ancestral homes as their guardians. Prior to the Guangxu reign，armed feuds often occurred between emigrant groups from different ancestral homes. Historieally this fighting was known as subethnic feuding. Guardian gods became the spiritual mainstays and temples became the centers of self一defense in these feuds. Some temples were even used as fortresses. During the period of these violent feuds, belief in local gods flourished among the people of Taiwan and the number of temples increased.