Fu'an Temple Introduction
During the Kangxi period of the Qing Dynasty, a group of immigrants from Quanzhou arrived in checheng, which was then still an undeveloped land. Due to the unfamiliar environment and an outbreak of disease, someone suggested building a thatched hut to worship the Earth God to protect the local residents, naming it "Jingsheng Pavilion." It wasn't until the Jiaqing period that local residents initiated fundraising for renovations and renamed Jingsheng Pavilion to Fuan Temple. In the 53rd year of the Qianlong reign, Fu Kang'an was ordered to lead troops south to Checheng to suppress the Lin Shuangwen Incident. However, many soldiers fell ill due to the local conditions. Fu Kang'an specifically prayed to the Earth God for protection, and indeed, soon after, the soldiers gradually recovered. To express gratitude for divine grace, he petitioned Emperor Qianlong for official attire and a hat, and a stone tablet was granted to showcase the miraculous deeds of the Earth God. This is the origin of the Earth God in Fuan Temple wearing a crown and dragon robe, which is quite different from the images of the Earth God in other temples. In the 42nd year of the Republic of China, Fuan Temple was officially renamed Fuan Palace. Due to the Earth God’s renowned powers and the increasing number of devotees, the temple underwent expansions funded by donations from faithful followers, ultimately achieving the magnificent palace-like appearance seen today. It is said that Fuan Palace has become the largest and most prosperous Earth God temple in Taiwan. Fuan Palace is built in a three-section, six-story structure, with the front hall having five gates and two pavilions. The main hall on the first floor enshrines the Earth God, the fourth floor houses Guanyin, the Medicine Buddha, and Manjushri, while the sixth floor's front hall enshrines the Star Lord and the back hall enshrines the Jade Emperor, the North and South Dipper Star Lords, and the Three Officials. The eaves are adorned with many intricate brackets, complemented by stone-carved dragon pillars and painted beam columns, enhancing the grandeur of the main hall. Inside Fuan Palace, there are many ancient plaques, for example, on the left wall of the main hall is an inscription from the Qianlong period left by Governor Fu An Kang, who suppressed the Lin Shuangwen Incident while stationed here, and on the right wall is a plaque commemorating Liu Mingdeng's resolution of the Luo Fahao incident during the Tongzhi period, both of which are aged artifacts. The most distinctive feature of Fuan Palace is the gold-burning furnace, which is an octagonal structure with three layers of eaves, standing four stories tall. When devotees place gold paper into the furnace, it automatically flies into the furnace due to a cyclone formed by the flames inside, creating an interesting phenomenon.
