Fu'an Temple Introduction
During the Kangxi period of the Qing Dynasty, a group of immigrants from Quanzhou came to what was then a barren land in Checheng. Due to adverse living conditions and the outbreak of epidemics, in order to stabilize the sentiments of the local people, someone proposed to build a thatched hut to honor the Earth God (Fude Zhengshen) to protect the residents of the village, naming it "Jingsheng Pavilion." Until the Jiaqing period, local residents initiated a fundraising campaign to renovate it and changed the name of Jingsheng Pavilion to Fuan Temple. In the 53rd year of the Qianlong reign, Fukang'an was ordered to lead troops south to Checheng to quell the Lin Shuangwen’s rebellion. Unexpectedly, the soldiers fell ill due to the adverse environment. Fukang'an specially prayed to the Earth God for protection, and soon the soldiers gradually recovered. To express gratitude for the divine blessing, he requested the Qianlong Emperor to grant him official clothing and a crown, and a stone tablet was erected in honor of the Earth God’s miraculous deeds. This is how the statue of the Earth God in Fuan Temple was depicted wearing a crown and royal robe, which distinctly sets it apart from other Earth God statues in different temples. The Fuan Temple was officially renamed Fuan Palace in the 42nd year of the Republic of China. Since the Earth God has been known for his miraculous powers and responsiveness to prayers, the number of devotees has been steadily increasing. With the donations from the faithful, extensive renovations have taken place, resulting in the splendid 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 features a three-compound, six-story structure, with the front hall having five doors and two pavilions, the main hall on the first floor enshrining the Earth God, the fourth floor dedicated to Guanyin, the Medicine Buddha, and Manjushri, while the sixth floor’s front hall honors the Tai Sui deity, and the back hall enshrines the Jade Emperor, the Northern and Southern Dipper deities, and the Three Officials deity. The eaves are adorned with numerous intricate bracket sets, complemented by stone-carved dragon pillars and painted beams, highlighting the grandeur of the main hall. Inside Fuan Palace, there are many ancient plaques; for instance, on the left wall of the main hall is the inscription left by Fukang’an, the Governor-General of Guangdong and Guangxi during the Qianlong reign, who stationed here during the quelling of Lin Shuangwen’s rebellion, and on the right wall is a tablet commemorating Liu Mingdeng’s resolution of the Luofahao incident during the Tongzhi period, both ancient artifacts of significant historical value. The most distinctive feature of Fuan Palace is the golden furnace used for burning joss paper. The furnace is an octagonal structure with three tiers of eaves and stands four stories high. When devotees place joss paper into the furnace opening, the paper automatically flies into the furnace due to a cyclone formed by the flames inside, creating a fascinating phenomenon.
