Chang Li Shrine Introduction
Changli Temple is a Hakka temple established by the Hakka people in the Neipu area, and its origins can be traced back to a historical event in the Tang Dynasty. Han Yu, known as Han Changli, was a master of poetry and prose, an advocate for the revival of classical literature, and a revered Confucian scholar of the Tang Dynasty, considered the leader of the Eight Great Prose Masters of the Tang and Song Dynasties. However, due to his petition against Emperor Xianzong’s welcoming of the Buddhist relics, he was demoted from his position as Vice Minister of Justice to the governor of Chaozhou. After taking office, Han Yu took care of the people's hardships and actively promoted education, which deeply touched the Hakka people who were able to get an education at that time. Later, this group of Hakka people moved to Neipu and built Changli Temple to express their gratitude for his contributions, making it the only temple in Taiwan dedicated to Han Yu. According to the "Reconstruction Record of Neipu Changli Temple" inside the temple, Changli Temple was initiated in 1803 by the then military officer Zhong Linjiang. The original design of Changli Temple was simple and elegant, reflecting the style of literati. It has undergone multiple renovations, and during the reconstruction project in the 68th year of the Republic, some structures were changed to reinforced concrete, which caused the temple's exterior to lose its classical flavor. Nevertheless, Changli Temple still retains many historical artifacts that are worth savoring. At the side entrance of the temple, there is a stone tablet inscribed with the "Prohibition of Immigrants to Gulingpu" from the Jiaqing period of the Qing Dynasty. Gulingpu referred to the wasteland between Donggang Creek and Ailiao Creek in Neipu in earlier years. Due to conflicts when immigrants attempted to cultivate the wasteland, resulting in suffering for the local inhabitants, the government issued this decree to prohibit immigrants from cultivation and allowed only the Pingpu indigenous people to farm freely, preventing future conflicts. The interior of the temple is simply arranged, with Han Yu as the main deity in the center, and Han Xiang and Zhao De on either side. On the mottled yellow walls, the large characters "Loyalty, Filial Piety, Integrity, and Righteousness" are visible, along with hanging copies of examination approval forms. In earlier years, Changli Temple was the cultural and educational center of the Neipu area, frequently inviting distinguished teachers to give lectures, which contributed to the flourishing of literature in the Liu Dui area. Therefore, Changli Temple became a place for students to pray for academic success. The Pingtung County Government also often organizes a series of cultural festivals for Han Yu at Changli Temple to help preserve Hakka culture.
