Beishi Liao Bao'an Temple Introduction
Bao'an Temple, located in Beishiliao, Zhongliao Village, Fangliao Township, Pingtung County, was founded in the 50th year of the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty (1785) and has a history of over 200 years. The temple primarily worships Emperor Baosheng and is the most well-preserved temple in Pingtung County. Bao'an Temple features a two-section, three-bay layout, including a San Chuan Hall, Main Hall, Longhu Well, and Worship Pavilion. The temple's decorations were created by renowned artists such as Huang Guili, Yang Xiuxing, Chen Jitang, and Zheng Zhencheng, focusing on mythological stories and historical figures through carvings, paintings, and paper-cutting. It is a temple with a long history and high artistic value. According to the temple's historical records, Beishiliao was a desolate and sparsely populated area during the Ming Dynasty, where residents primarily engaged in logging, fishing, and farming. The timber they cut was transported by boats to the city of Chengtianfu for sale. One night, a local ancestor named Yang Kaishan, while fishing at sea, inadvertently noticed a bright light on the shore. Driven by curiosity, he landed to investigate and discovered a bag of incense, inscribed with "Incense of Emperor Baosheng." He took it home for worship, and unexpectedly, miraculous occurrences began to happen, leading to an increasing number of devotees, prompting the construction of the temple. Bao'an Temple has undergone several renovations, including a reconstruction during the Japanese colonial era under the Shōwa era, where different spaces were designated for different craftsmen to design and create. The main craftsmen at that time were the famous Taiwanese carver Huang Guili and master Yang Xiuxing from the Xidi school in Quanzhou. Each brought their unique styles and preferred decorative themes, enhancing the cultural value of Bao'an Temple.
