Furen Temple Introduction
At the end of He Ping Old Street stands a century-old temple, adding a solemn atmosphere to the bustling commercial street. Furen Temple, known as a major temple among the local people, was built in the 18th year of the Jiaqing era (1813). At that time, the Zhangzhou immigrants pooled funds to build the temple to avoid the inconvenience of crossing the Dazhongkeng Creek to Pu Ding to pay respects to the Kaizhang Shengwang during festive occasions. Today, Furen Temple is not only a significant site of worship for the Daxi Zhangzhou belief but also enshrines local deities from Hakka, Chaozhou, and Quanzhou, which is quite rare. During the Japanese occupation period, Furen Temple established a peace bureau as a local resistance point, and it was used as a garrison hospital during the colonial period. After undergoing two reconstructions, it is now one of the largest temples in Daxi. Covering an area of over 300 ping, it features a three-hall structure with a false four-eave roof design, and both the main hall and side rooms have two dragon columns. The height of the main hall is comparable to that of the two-story rear hall, symbolizing equality between the deities of the main and accompanying altars. The temple courtyard, divided by He Ping Old Street, used to be a gathering place for children playing tops and villagers chatting. Now, it serves as a parking lot and a venue for community activities, retaining its warm human connections after a hundred years. If you want to experience local temple activities, the "Sacred Pig Competition" on the 11th day of the second lunar month is definitely not to be missed. To celebrate the birthday of Kaizhang Shengwang, ten major surnames take turns to offer a sacred pig every ten years, which is considered a significant event for each family. The sacred pig must be ornately painted by a professional master and presented at the square of Furen Temple. Devotees from various places parade through the streets, accompanied by traditional music played with Northern Pipe drums, and folk opera performances, creating an extraordinary festive atmosphere. The century-old "Sacred Pig Competition," evolving with the times, now features "creative sacred pigs" made from ingredients like noodle turtles, noodles, and oranges, yet it remains an exciting cultural event.
