Bao'an Temple Introduction
Ruisui's Baon Temple is the oldest Chenghuang Temple in the Hualien area. In 1889, Mr. Hsieh Fang-rong built a thatched hut called Baon Temple, which enshrines the Chenghuang of Xiahai City. Baon Temple is located in Ruisui Fuyuan, an area that was formerly known as "Baizai Village." Before the Han people arrived, the Amis tribe had already settled here. The location of Baon Temple is situated on the boundary between the Han village and the indigenous tribe, making its geographical position significant in terms of ethnic relationships. After several renovations, it has become the current reinforced concrete structure with a main hall and side halls; inside the temple, there are brick carvings of the God of Wealth, and the Pangu Emperor board is located in the altar of the God of Grains. The 13th day of the fifth lunar month is the birthday of Chenghuang, and Baon Temple primarily worships the Chenghuang of Xiahai, holding grand temple fairs and procession activities every year. Differently, the Chenghuang of Baon Temple retains the custom of nighttime visits to the community, where teams from the village gather to support each other, traveling around the village in vehicles on the night of the 12th. On the 13th, the activities expand, reaching from Ruisui in the south to Dafu in the north, becoming the largest event in the area. The annual "night visit" is a major event for Baizai Village, which, in its early days, featured a large drum carried by people, with competitions and the continuous sound of firecrackers along the way. Nowadays, the "Drum King Battle" is held to promote Baizai Village's superior drumming tradition.
