Yong'an Temple Introduction
At the current site of this temple, there is a straw hut housing three paper effigies of the Wang Ye deity and several clay sculptures of the Tiger General. At that time, unusual events were happening in the area; the people were either in a daze or falling ill, but no cause could be found for their ailments. The locals were not only fearful but also at a loss for what to do, so they sought blessings from the Wang Ye for peace and safety. The next day, a fisherman passing by the temple saw flames rising to the sky and went inside to check. Suddenly, the Wang Ye descended and performed rituals to calm the situation. From then on, peace was restored to the area, and the believers, lighting incense and worshiping, noticed that the incense burner formed the character "薛". From that day on, the local people referred to this deity as "Xue Wang Ye". The Lugang Yong'an Temple is an ancient temple closely tied to the development history of Lugang. In terms of historical development, the Wang Ye of this temple, Xue Fu Wang Ye, was established after the Lugang Water Patrol was set up in the 23rd year of the Kangxi reign. In the 37th year of Kangxi, a naval officer invited the deity from his ancestral home to establish a platform for blessings, which marks its long history. The secondary deity, Zeng Da Laoye, was a real historical figure noted for his military achievements recorded in the county annals. Zeng Da Laoye refers to Zeng Shaolong, a naval commander who lost his life during the disturbances of the 60th year of the Qianlong reign, after which he was honored with a memorial and posthumously awarded a fourth-rank title, and was included in the Chang Zhong Temple. The deity's current representation in the temple reflects the attire of a fourth-rank official. Additionally, although Zeng Da Laoye came from a military background, he was skilled in literature and poetry, established a private school to educate the locals, and actively promoted students to pursue academic success. His efforts won the hearts of the people in Lugang, so after his incorporation as a deity, Zeng Da Laoye became an object of worship for students seeking success in their studies, comparable to the deity Wen Chang Jun.
