Su'ao Jin'an Temple (Zhang Gong Temple) Introduction
Jin'an Temple is dedicated to the deity known as "Fa Zhu Gong", originally named Zhang, and is often referred to as Zhang Gong Temple. It is the oldest temple in Su'ao, and Fa Zhu Gong is the local guardian deity of Quanzhou, Fujian, indicating that the people from Quanzhou were among the first Han immigrants to settle in the Su'ao area. The pioneering ancestors from Quanzhou, seeking a place to settle overseas, invited the local guardian deity Fa Zhu Gong to accompany them on their journey to dispel the miasma of uncultivated land, leading to the establishment of a temple in the areas of Su'ao, Baimei Weng, and Yongchun in honor of Fa Zhu Gong. As a result of diligent cultivation, large flatlands were developed around the Sanxing and Dapu areas, which attracted nearly a hundred Quanzhou ancestors to settle in Yilan. Jin'an Temple preserves a piece of indigo-dyed cloth featuring the names of twenty-six pioneering figures and maintains a commemorative inscription, carrying significant historical heritage. There is a humorous story associated with Jin'an Temple: typically, the stone lions flanking temple gates are "male on the left and female on the right," but at Jin'an Temple, it is the opposite. Moreover, most of the shops in front of the temple are run by women, leading to the area being nicknamed "Jing Mou Street," a rather intriguing local legend around Su'ao. In the past, during the celebration of Zhang Gong's birthday (the 8th day of the 3rd lunar month), the temple would hold grand events to welcome the deity and pray for peace in the region, making it one of the important festivities in Su'ao. In recent years, Jin'an Temple has initiated "Ban Zhuo Culture" activities to strengthen local ties and revive folk culture, inviting performing arts troupes for lively entertainment.
