Ximen Fude Temple Introduction
Main deity: Earth God (Fude Zhengshen) Historical development: The Changhua West Gate Fude Temple (county-designated historic site) enshrines Fude Zhengshen, commonly known as the Earth God, who is the guardian deity of the land, and is also referred to as the Daxi Men Earth God Temple. The exact founding date is unknown, but it can be roughly inferred from the ancient plaque hanging in the temple, dating back to the Qianlong period. The belief in Fude Zhengshen was widespread among the early Taiwanese settlers; revered as the patron deity in rural areas and honored as the God of Wealth by urban merchants, hence the saying "Earth Gods in fields, markets, and alleys." In the past, there were four city gates in Changhua County: East Gate (Legeng Gate), West Gate (Qingfeng Gate), South Gate (Xuanping Gate), and North Gate (Gongchen Gate). Near each city gate, a shrine dedicated to the Earth God was built.
Regarding the Fude Temple related to the city gate, this temple can be compared to the Fusa Land God Temple in the old town of Fengshan County, and with its large scale, superior building materials, and exquisite sculptures, it is far superior. In Taiwan, there are hundreds of land temples, but most are small shrines; thus, the scale of this temple is quite rare. The temple is a single-hall structure with a worship pavilion in front. Although small in size, the temple has a simple and elegant appearance. The worship pavilion features a four-sloped roof with upturned eaves, presenting a beautiful exterior.
