Fu'an Temple Introduction
During the Kangxi era of the Qing Dynasty, a group of immigrants from Quanzhou came to Checheng, which was still an underdeveloped area at the time. Due to unsuitable soil and water conditions, along with the outbreak of epidemics, someone suggested building a thatched hut to honor the Earth God for the protection of the local residents, naming it "Jingsheng Pavilion". By the Jiaqing era, local residents started fundraising for renovations and renamed Jingsheng Pavilion to Fuan Temple. In the 53rd year of Emperor Qianlong's reign, Fu Kang'an was ordered to lead troops south to Checheng to quell the Lin Shuangwen Rebellion. However, many soldiers fell ill due to the unfavorable conditions. Fu Kang'an specifically prayed to the Earth God for protection, and soon after, the soldiers gradually recovered. To express gratitude for the divine grace, he petitioned Emperor Qianlong to bestow official robes and caps, and granted a stone tablet for memorializing the Earth God's miracles. This is the origin of the Earth God in the Fuan Temple wearing a crown and dragon robes, which significantly differs from the statues of Earth Gods 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 powerful and miraculous presence, various believers increased in number, and the temple underwent continuous expansion through donations from kind-hearted men and women, eventually achieving its current magnificent palace-like appearance. It is said that Fuan Palace has become the largest and most popular Earth God temple in Taiwan. The architecture of Fuan Palace features three courtyards and six stories, with the front hall having five gates 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 front hall enshrines the Tai Sui Star Lord, and the rear hall worships the Jade Emperor, the Northern and Southern Dipper Star Lords, and the Three Officials. The eaves showcase many networked dougong brackets, along with stone-carved dragon columns and painted beams further enhancing the main hall's magnificent atmosphere. Inside Fuan Palace, there are many ancient plaques, such as a tablet left by Fu Ankang, the governor of Guangdong during the Qianlong era, commemorating the suppression of the Lin Shuangwen Rebellion, and another commemorating Liu Mingdeng's resolution of the Luo Fahao incident during the Tongzhi era, both of which are ancient relics. One of the most distinctive features of Fuan Palace is the gold furnace used for burning joss paper. The octagonal building is three-tiered and four stories high. When worshippers place joss paper into the furnace, it automatically flies into the interior due to a cyclone effect created by the flames, resulting in this interesting phenomenon.
