Su'ao Jin'an Temple (Zhang Gong Temple) Introduction
Jin'an Temple, commonly referred to as Zhang Gong Temple due to its worship of the deity known as "Master Zhang," is the oldest temple in Su'ao. Master Zhang is the local guardian deity of Quanzhou in Fujian Province, and this indirectly highlights that people from Quanzhou were among the earliest Han settlers in the Su'ao area. The pioneering ancestors from Quanzhou, seeking a place to settle overseas, invited Master Zhang to board their ships to drive away the miasma of the uncharted lands, making it easier to establish a temple in areas like Baimeikeng and Yongchun to worship him. With diligent cultivation, expansive plains were developed around the Sanxing Dapu area, which later attracted nearly a hundred descendants of Quanzhou settlers to migrate to Yilan. At Jin'an Temple, there is an old piece of blue-dyed cloth featuring the names of twenty-six pioneering ancestors, along with preserved inscriptions that hold significant historical value. The temple also has an amusing tale: while the stone lions at most temple entrances are traditionally arranged with the male on the left and the female on the right, Jin'an Temple has them placed in reverse. Furthermore, many of the local shops are run by women, which has led to the area being informally dubbed "Scare Someone Street," an amusing local legend in Su'ao. In the past, during the annual celebration of Master Zhang (on the 8th day of the 3rd lunar month), grand festivities were organized by the temple to welcome the deity on his procession, praying for safety and peace in the community—an important event for the Su'ao area. In recent years, to connect with local sentiment and revive folk culture, Jin'an Temple has started hosting "Banquet Culture" events, inviting performing arts troupes to liven up the festivities, making it a vibrant occasion.
