Furien Temple Introduction
At the end of HePing Old Street stands a century-old temple, adding a solemn atmosphere to the bustling commercial street. The Fujin Temple, known locally as the main temple, was built in the 18th year of the Jiaqing era (1813). At that time, the settlers from Zhangzhou raised funds to build the temple to avoid the inconvenience of crossing the Dazhongkeng Creek to Puding to worship the Kuan Zhang Sheng Wang during festivals. Fujin Temple is not only a significant site for Zhangzhou beliefs in Daxi but also houses deities from Hakka, Teochew, and Quanzhou traditions, which is quite rare. During the Japanese colonial period, Fujin Temple established an Anmin Bureau as a resistance base locally; it was used as a garrison hospital during the occupation and has since undergone two major reconstructions. Today, it is one of the largest temples in Daxi, covering over 300 ping and designed in a three-hall style, with the roofing featuring a false four-tier design. Both the main hall and the side chambers are supported by two dragon pillars. The height of the main hall is comparable to that of the two-story rear hall, symbolizing equality between the main deity and the accompanying deities. The temple courtyard, divided by HePing Old Street, used to be a common gathering place for children to play spinning tops and for locals to chat, and now serves as a parking lot and community activity space, maintaining its warm atmosphere for a century. If you want to experience local temple activities, don't miss the "Sacred Pig Race" event on the 11th day of the 2nd lunar month. To celebrate the birthday of Kuan Zhang Sheng Wang, ten major surnames take turns offering sacred pigs every ten years, and each family considers it a significant event. The sacred pigs must be artistically painted by professional masters and presented at the Fujin Temple square for sacrifice. Devotees from various places join the procession, with traditional music played on the Beiguan drums along the way, accompanied by folk opera performances, creating a lively scene. The century-old "Sacred Pig Race" event, while having evolved with the times, now features "creative sacred pigs" made from ingredients like dough turtles, noodles, and oranges, ensuring it remains an exciting cultural festival.
