Fu'an Temple Introduction
During the Kangxi period of the Qing Dynasty, a group of immigrants from Quanzhou arrived in Checheng, which was still a barren land at that time. Due to issues with the local environment and outbreaks of disease, someone proposed to build a thatched hut to honor the Earth God (Fude Zhengshen) to protect the local residents. This hut was named "Jingsheng Pavilion." Later, during the Jiaqing period, local residents raised funds to renovate the pavilion and renamed it to Fuan Temple. In the 53rd year of Qianlong's reign, Fukang'an was ordered to lead troops south to Checheng to suppress the Lin Shuangwen incident. However, many soldiers fell ill due to adapting poorly to the local environment. Fukang'an specifically prayed to the Earth God for protection, and soon after, the soldiers began to recover. Grateful for the divine grace, he petitioned Emperor Qianlong to bestow official garments and caps, as well as a stone tablet to commend the miracles of Fude Zhengshen. This is the origin of the unique appearance of the Earth God in the main hall of Fuan Temple, who is depicted wearing a crown and a dragon robe, distinct from the statues of the Earth God in other temples. Fuan Temple was officially renamed Fuan Palace in the 42nd year of the Republic of China. Due to the Earth God’s great power and responsive blessings, the number of devotees grew steadily. Through donations from devotees, the temple underwent expansions and was eventually completed in its current magnificent palace-like appearance. It is said that Fuan Palace has become the largest and most vibrant Earth God temple in Taiwan. The Fuan Palace features a three-tier, six-story architecture, with a front hall consisting of five doors and two pavilions. The main hall on the first floor enshrines the Earth God, while the fourth floor houses Guanyin, the Medicine Buddha, and Manjushri. The sixth floor’s front hall is dedicated to the Tai Sui Star Lord, while the back hall enshrines the Jade Emperor, the Northern and Southern Dipper Star Lords, and the Three Officials. The eaves feature many intricate brackets, and the stone-carved dragon columns and painted beams further enhance the majesty of the main hall. Inside the Fuan Palace, there are many ancient plaques; for instance, on the left wall of the main hall is a stone inscription left by Fukang'an, Governor-General of Guangdong and Guangxi during the reign of Qianlong, commemorating his suppression of the Lin Shuangwen incident. The right wall memorializes Liu Mingdeng's resolution of the Luofa incident during the Tongzhi era, both of which are aged relics. One of the most distinctive features of Fuan Palace is the gold-burning furnace. This octagonal structure with three tiers has four floors, and when devotees place gold paper into the furnace, it automatically flies into the interior. This is due to the formation of a cyclone in the flames within the furnace, which draws the gold paper in, creating an interesting phenomenon.
