Furen Temple Introduction
At the end of Heping Old Street stands a century-old temple, adding a solemn atmosphere to the bustling business street. Furen Temple, known as a major temple by the local population, was built in the 18th year of the Jiaqing reign (1813). At that time, the immigrants from Zhangzhou raised funds to build the temple to avoid the inconvenience of crossing the Dakan River to Puding to worship the Kuan Zhang Sheng Wang during festivals, with contributions from Li Bingsheng (father of Li Tengfang), Lyu Fanqiao, Lin Benyuan, and others. Today, Furen Temple is not only a significant site of Zhangzhou belief in Daxi but also enshrines local deities of Hakka, Chaozhou, and Quanzhou, which is quite rare. During the Japanese colonial period, Furen Temple established an Anmin Bureau to serve as a resistance point against Japanese rule, and it was used as a garrison hospital. After undergoing two rounds of reconstruction, it is now one of the largest temples in Daxi. Furen Temple covers an area of over 300 pings and features a three-hall architectural style, with all roofs designed in a false four-slope style. Both the main hall and side rooms have two dragon pillars. The main hall's height is comparable to that of the two-story rear hall, symbolizing that there is no distinction in status between the deities being worshiped. The temple courtyard, divided by Heping Old Street, was once a place where children gathered to play spinning tops, and residents chatted casually. Nowadays, in addition to being a parking lot, it also serves as a venue for community activities, retaining its warmth and human touch after a century. If you want to experience local temple fairs, the "God Pig Contest" on February 11 of the lunar calendar is an event you cannot miss. To celebrate the birthday of Kuan Zhang Sheng Wang, ten major surnames take turns offering divine pigs, with each family treating it as a significant occasion every ten years. The divine pigs must be painted by professional masters and presented at the Furen Temple square. Devotees from all directions participate in the parade, accompanied by traditional music played by the Bei Guan ensemble and folk opera performances, creating a lively scene. The "God Pig Contest," with a history of a hundred years, has evolved with time, and although it has now been creatively transformed using ingredients such as dough turtles, noodles, and oranges to make "creative divine pigs," it remains an exciting cultural event.