Changli Shrine Introduction
Changli Shrine is a temple built by the Hakka people in the Neipu area, with its origins tracing back to a historical event during the Tang Dynasty. Han Yu, known as Han Changli, was well-versed in poetry and prose and advocated for the revival of classical writings. He was a highly respected Confucian scholar in the Tang Dynasty and is regarded as the foremost among the Eight Great Writers of the Tang and Song Dynasties. However, after advising Emperor Xianzong of Tang against the reception of Buddhist relics, he was demoted from Assistant Minister of Justice to Governor of Chaozhou. Upon his appointment, Han Yu cared for the people's suffering and actively promoted education, leading the Hakka people, who at that time were able to receive an education, to feel grateful. Later, after these Hakka people migrated to Neipu, they built Changli Shrine in appreciation of his benevolence, and it is the only temple in Taiwan dedicated to Han Yu. According to the records in the temple's "Neipu Changli Shrine Reconstruction Memoir," Changli Shrine was initiated in 1803 by the then Captain Zhao Wudu Wei Zhong Linjiang. The initial appearance of Changli Shrine was simple and elegant, embodying the style of scholars and literati. It has undergone multiple renovations, and during the renovation project in 1979, part of the structure was changed to reinforced concrete, causing the temple's exterior to lose its classical charm. Nevertheless, Changli Shrine still retains many historical artifacts worth savoring. At the side of the entrance to the temple, there is a stone tablet inscribed with the "Prohibition Order of Gulingpu," issued during the Jiaqing period of the Qing Dynasty. Gulingpu referred to the wasteland between the Donggang River and Ailiao River in Neipu in earlier times. Due to conflicts when outside immigrants attempted to cultivate the wasteland, causing harm to local inhabitants, the government issued this order to prohibit immigrants from reclaiming the land, allowing only the Pingpu indigenous people to farm freely, to prevent future troubles. The temple's interior is simply arranged, with Han Yu as the central deity, flanked by Han Xiang and Zhao De. On the mottled yellow walls, the four characters "Loyalty, Filial Piety, Integrity, and Righteousness" are prominently displayed, along with numerous copies of examination credentials. In earlier times, Changli Shrine served as an educational and cultural center in the Neipu area, frequently inviting renowned teachers to give lectures, which contributed to the flourishing of academic culture in the Liu Dui region. As a result, Changli Shrine became a place for students to pray for academic success. The Pingtung County Government also often organizes a series of cultural festivals in honor of Han Yu at Changli Shrine, aiming to ensure the continuation of Hakka culture.
