The tradition originates in Tainan, but in Chiayi practices have diverged somewhat. Generally speaking, they can be divided between the "Shih General" troupes affiliated with Chiayi's City God Temple, and the "Eight Generals" troupes passed down through the Chenyutang groups of the Tzuchigung Temple.
嘉義地區的家將團源自台南府城，但編制卻與台南地區不同，大致可分為以嘉義城隍廟所屬吉勝堂為首的「什家將」，以及嘉邑慈濟宮由駕前振裕堂所傳衍的「八家將」兩大系統。