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