Beishiliao Bao'an Temple Introduction
Bao-An Temple, located in Beishi Liao of Zhongliao Village, Fangliao Township, Pingtung County, was established in the 50th year of the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty (1785 AD) and has a history of over 200 years. It is dedicated to the worship of Baosheng Dadi and is the best-preserved temple in Pingtung County. The structure of Bao-An Temple follows a two-entrance, three-bay layout, featuring a San Chuan Hall, a Main Hall, Longhu Well, and a Worship Pavilion among other elements. The temple was decorated by renowned artists such as Huang Guili, Yang Xiuxing, Chen Jitang, and Zheng Zhencheng, who used themes from myths and historical figures to create carvings, paintings, and paper cutting, making it a temple with a rich history and high artistic value. According to the temple's historical records, Beishi Liao was a barren and sparsely populated area during the Ming Dynasty, with residents mainly living off timbering, fishing, and farming. The timber would be transported by boats to Cheng Tian Fu for sale. One night, the local forefather Yang Kaishan was engaged in fishing operations at sea when he accidentally saw a bright light on the shore. Driven by curiosity, he landed to investigate and discovered a bag of incense with the words "Baosheng Dadi Incense" written on it. He took it home for worship, and soon after, miraculous events began to occur, attracting more and more devotees, which led to the construction of the temple for worship. Bao-An Temple has undergone multiple renovations and was reconstructed during the Japanese occupation era. At that time, a special design method called "dui chang" (division of spaces) was adopted, inviting different groups of artists to design and create various parts of the temple. The major artistic contributors during that period were Yang Xiuxing of the Quanzhou Xidi school and renowned Taiwanese wood carving master Huang Guili. Both featured distinct styles and favored different decorative themes, enhancing the cultural value of Bao-An Temple.
