A historic shrine in Taipei dating back to the Japanese colonial period has been vandalized, local media reported Tuesday.

On Monday, it was discovered that a komainu (lion-dog) statue at the Yuanshan Water Shrine was stolen and that brown columns of the structure were splattered with white paint, according to the reports. A note slandering Japanese and Japan-friendly Taiwanese was also found at the scene.

The shrine's supervisory agency, the Taipei Water Department, said it has already reported the incident to the police. An investigation is underway to find the motive behind the vandalism.