Dashiye Temple Introduction
Historical Development: Construction Year: The exact founding year is unknown, rebuilt in 1923 (Taisho 12). Main Deity: Guanyin Bodhisattva (also known as Da Shi Ye). The origin of the temple's architecture cannot be verified; it may have been established during the Qianlong period. In 1906 (Meiji 39), the Meishan earthquake completely destroyed the temple. In 1923, believers raised funds to rebuild it and combined the main deities from four temples in the MInxiong area that were also affected by the earthquake: Da Shi Ye Temple, Qingcheng Palace (Mazu), Kaizhang Shengwang Temple (Chen Yuan-Guang), and Kaitai Shengwang Temple (Zheng Chenggong). However, due to the religious policies imposed by the Japanese colonial government, it had to be rebuilt under the name "Ciji Temple." The original temple name was restored in 1987 (76th year of the Republic of China). Da Shi Ye, also known as Da Shi Ye Bo or Da Shi Ye Gong, has various origin stories: one suggests Da Shi Ye was a king of ghosts who was subdued by Guanyin Bodhisattva; another claims that Guanyin Bodhisattva took on the appearance of the ghost king to subdue various demons and ghosts. Local chronicles record that the people from Beigang (Quanzhou) and Minxiong (Zhangzhou) had severe casualties due to a minor dispute, so they agreed to hold a worship ceremony to appease the souls of the deceased, with Da Shi Ye representing these souls; there are also accounts that due to an epidemic, the ancestors worshipped Da Shi Ye as they believed it could alleviate the disease. Although these stories are inconsistent, they reflect the temple's role in resolving conflicts, promoting harmony in migrant society, and stabilizing public sentiment during outbreaks. In the past, Da Shi Ye could only be worshipped during the Pu Du festival, with paper effigies of the deity set up at street corners for worship (or it is said that Guanyin Bodhisattva only took on the form of the ghost king during this period), thus only Guanyin Bodhisattva could be seen seated in the main hall during regular days. The annual event in Minxiong, the Da Shi Ye Festival, occurs from July 21 to 23 of the lunar calendar, during which a paper effigy of Da Shi Ye with a green face and protruding fangs is enshrined in the main hall. At the end of the Pu Du ceremony, the effigies of Da Shi Ye along with those of mountain deities and the Earth God are burned to symbolize Da Shi Ye taking away all the wandering spirits, allowing the area to return to peace. Architectural Overview: The current structure of Da Shi Ye Temple was rebuilt in 1923 and enshrines the deities from the four temples, thus the layout of Da Shi Ye Temple is divided into four main sections: the buildings on the left and right are the Kaizhang Shengwang Hall and the Kaitai Shengwang Hall, while the three rivers hall and the main hall along the central axis form the core of Da Shi Ye Temple, and the rear hall is the Qingcheng Palace for Mazu worship. Moreover, the main facade, aligned with the three rivers hall and the two mountain gates, hints at the presence of multiple temples in parallel. The oldest components of this temple are the stone lions of the three rivers hall and the pearl columns of the rear hall, which are remnants from the old Qingcheng Palace, carved in the 14th year of the Jiaqing era. The stone lions, being treasures among stone carvings, feature a stylistic design from the mid-Qing period that deserves careful appreciation. In addition, the wood carvings of the three rivers hall are intricate and feature unique themes, depicting characters such as scholars, farmers, woodcutters, and fishermen, along with carved windows that portray scenes from hell. Architectural Features: The rebuilt beams and columns, as well as the stone materials of the temple mainly came from Qingcheng Palace and other temples that were also toppled in the 1905 earthquake, and some cultural relics from the Qing dynasty period were also placed here, thereby indirectly preserving the temple culture of the Minxiong area.
