Yong'an Temple Introduction
At the current site of this temple, there is a small hut that houses three paper-mâché statues of the Wang Ye deity and several clay statues of the Tiger General. At that time, unusual events were happening in the locality; some people were in a confused state of mind, while others were falling ill without any apparent cause. The townsfolk, feeling anxious and helpless, sought the blessings of Wang Ye for protection and peace. The next day, a fisherman passing by the temple saw flames ascending into the sky and entered to investigate. Suddenly, Wang Ye manifested and performed rituals to restore tranquility. From that moment on, peace returned to the area. Devout followers who burned incense and prayed noticed the character "薛" (Xue) rising from the incense burner, and from then on, the locals referred to this statue as "Xue Wang Ye." The Yong'an Temple in Lukang is an ancient temple closely related to the development history of Lukang. In terms of historical significance, the main deity honored in this temple, Xue Fu Wang Ye, was established in the 23rd year of the Kangxi Emperor's reign after the formation of the Lukang Water Patrol, and was invited to establish an altar for protection by a water patrol official from his ancestral hometown in the 37th year of the Kangxi Emperor's reign, making it a site with a rich history. The side deity, Zeng Da Laoye, was a real person known for his military achievements recorded in the county annals. Zeng Da Laoye refers to Zeng Shaolong, who was an assistant water patrol officer and died during the Chen Zhouquan Incident in the 60th year of the Qianlong Emperor’s reign. He was later honored with a hereditary worship and posthumously given the title of a fourth-rank official, and he was included in the offerings at the Changzhong Shrine. The current form of the deity in the temple is a statue depicting traditional fourth-rank official attire. Although Zeng Da Laoye originated from a military background, he was skilled in literature and poetry, privately establishing a school to educate the locals and promoting students to take the civil service examinations, which significantly fostered the cultural atmosphere in Lukang and garnered the favor of the people. Hence, after being enshrined, Zeng Da Laoye became a figure of veneration similar to Wenchang Jun for the devotees praying for the success of their children in examinations.
