Fu'an Temple Introduction
During the Kangxi era of the Qing Dynasty, a group of immigrants from Quanzhou arrived in Checheng, which was still a barren land at the time. Due to discomfort from the local environment and the outbreak of plagues, someone proposed to build a thatched hut to honor the God of Wealth and Earth, in order to protect the local residents, naming it "Jingsheng Pavilion". It wasn't until the Jiaqing era that the 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 quell the Lin Shuangwen rebellion. However, the soldiers fell ill due to the local environment, and Fu Kang'an specifically prayed to the Land God for protection. Soon after, the soldiers gradually recovered, and to express gratitude for the divine favor, a request was made to Emperor Qianlong for an official robe and hat, along with the granting of a stone tablet to commemorate the miracles of the God of Wealth and Earth. This led to the portrayal of the Land God in Fuan Temple wearing a crown and dragon robe in the main hall, which is indeed different from the statues of the Land God in other temples. In the 42nd year of the Republic of China, Fuan Temple was officially renamed Fuan Palace. Due to the remarkable power of the God of Wealth and Earth and the fulfilling of devotees' requests, there has been a growing number of believers, and with the donations of good men and women, expansion work was carried out, resulting in the magnificent palace-like appearance seen today. It is said that Fuan Palace has become the largest and most prosperous Land God temple in Taiwan. The architectural structure of Fuan Palace features a three-section, six-story design, with the front hall having five gates and two pavilions. The main hall on the first floor enshrines the God of Wealth and Earth, the fourth floor enshrines Guanyin, Medicine Buddha, and Manjushri, while the sixth floor's front hall enshrines the Tai Sui Star Lord, and the back hall enshrines the Jade Emperor, Southern and Northern Dipper Star Lords, and the Three Officials. The eaves are adorned with many intricate brackets, and the stone-carved dragon columns and painted beams further enhance the grandeur of the main hall. Inside Fuan Palace, there are many ancient plaques, such as the inscription on the left wall of the main hall, which was left by Governor Fu Ankang during the Qianlong period after suppressing the Lin Shuangwen rebellion, and the inscription on the right wall commemorating Liu Mingdeng's resolution of the Luo Fa incident during the Tongzhi period, both of which are ancient artifacts. One of Fuan Palace's unique features is the golden furnace for burning joss paper. The furnace is an octagonal building with three overhanging roofs and stands four stories high. When devotees place joss paper into the furnace, the paper automatically flies into the furnace due to the formation of a cyclone created by the flames inside, resulting in an intriguing phenomenon.
