Baoan Temple Introduction
The Bao'an Temple in Ruifeng is the earliest City God Temple in Hualien. In 1889, Mr. Hsieh Fang-Jung built a thatched hut and named it Bao'an Temple, dedicating it to the City God of Xiahai. Bao'an Temple is located in Ruifeng Fuyuan, an area formerly known as "Bazi Village," which was inhabited by the Amis tribe before the Han people arrived. The temple sits on the boundary between the Han settlement and the indigenous tribe, emphasizing its significance in terms of ethnic relations due to this unique geographical location. After several renovations, it has become the present-day temple structure made of reinforced concrete, consisting of a main hall and side halls. Inside the temple, there is a brick carving of the Earth God, and the Pangu Emperor plaque is located within the shrine of the Grain God. The thirteenth day of the fifth lunar month is the birthday of the City God, and Bao'an Temple hosts a grand temple fair and parade every year in honor of the City God of Xiahai. Uniquely, the City God of Bao'an Temple maintains the custom of night patrols in the community; on the night of the twelfth, various groups in the village come together to participate in a joint procession. On the thirteenth day, the pilgrimage is extended, reaching areas from Ruifeng to Dafu, becoming the biggest event in the region. The annual "secret visit" is the highlight of Bazi Village's calendar, which initially featured human-powered large drums, along the way competing, pasting red papers, and continuous sounds of firecrackers. Nowadays, it hosts the "Drum King Competition" to promote the superior drumming tradition of Bazi Village.
