Beiguan Temple Introduction
Beijing Xuanguang Temple's main deity, Emperor Xuanwu of the North, is known as the "Ancestral Master of Orchids." During the sacred birthday celebration, it has been celebrating with a series of orchid festival activities for 16 years, which is longer than Tainan's Taiwan International Orchid Exhibition. Various exquisite orchids are judged based on a divination method using bamboo slips, adding uniqueness to the temple's event. Beijing Xuanguang Temple and Ciyuan Temple, located less than 1 kilometer apart, share a historical lineage. However, over 60 years ago, a severe conflict arose between the Shangfan and Xiafan tribes during the distribution of ritual offerings after a festival, causing a split and resulting in decades of no contact between the two sides. In the year 101 of the Republic of China, on the eve of the birthday celebration for the Heavenly Mother, "Mazu" appeared in a dream to Gong Taiwen, president of the Orchid Association of Pingtung County, instructing him to hold a grand orchid exhibition on her birthday to welcome the "Ciyuan Temple" of the neighboring village, Qiaoxing Village's Changrong Community, for the "Scent and Orchid Appreciation" event, thus resolving past grievances. That year, an unprecedented two orchid exhibitions were held.
