Baosheng Temple Introduction
Ruisui's Bao'an Temple is the earliest Chenghuang Temple in Hualien. In 1889, Mr. Hsieh Fang-jung built a thatched hut named Bao'an Temple to worship the Chenghuang of Xiahai City. Bao'an Temple is located in Ruisui Fuyuan, with the old name "Bazi Village." Before the arrival of Han people, the Amis tribe already inhabited this area. The temple's location is right on the boundary between the Han village and the indigenous tribe, highlighting its significant meaning in terms of ethnic relations due to this unique geographical positioning. After multiple renovations, it has evolved into the current structure made of reinforced concrete, consisting of the main hall and auxiliary halls. Inside the temple, there is a brick engraving of the God of Wealth, and the Pangu Emperor plaque is located within the altar for the previous grain deities. The thirteenth day of the fifth lunar month is the birthday of Chenghuang Ye, and Bao'an Temple primarily worships Xiahai Chenghuang, hosting grand temple fairs and pilgrimage activities annually. Distinctively, the Chenghuang of Bao'an Temple retains the custom of nocturnal visits to the community. On the evening of the twelfth, various teams from the village gather to support by traveling together in vehicles around the village; on the thirteenth day, the procession expands, reaching as far south as Ruisui and as far north as Dafu, becoming the largest event in the region. The annual "secret visit" is a significant event in Bazi Village, which originally featured manually carried large drums, with competitions along the way and the continuous sound of firecrackers. Nowadays, the "Drum King Championship" is held to promote Bazi Village's superior drumming tradition.
