Baoan Temple Introduction
The Bao'an Temple in Ruisi is the earliest Chenghuang Temple in the Hualien area. In 1889, Mr. Hsieh Fang-jung built a thatched hut and named it Bao'an Temple, which is dedicated to the Chenghuang of Xiahai. Bao'an Temple is located in Ruisi Fuyuan, an area formerly known as "Bazi Village." Before the Han people arrived, the Amis tribe had already settled here. The location of Bao'an Temple is situated on the boundary between Han villages and indigenous tribes, which signifies its deep cultural and ethnic relationship. It has undergone several renovations, evolving into the current concrete temple structure with a main hall and side halls; inside the temple, there are brick carvings of the Earth God, and the Pangu deity card is located in the altar of the God of Grain. The thirteenth day of the fifth lunar month marks the birthday of the Chenghuang, and the Bao'an Temple, which enshrines the Chenghuang of Xiahai, holds grand temple fairs and tours every year. Uniquely, the Chenghuang of Bao'an Temple maintains the custom of night visits to the community. On the night of the twelfth, various teams from the village gather to assist and tour the area by vehicle; on the thirteenth, the activities expand into a procession that stretches from Ruisi to Dafu, becoming the largest event in the region. The annual "Secret Visits" are a major event in Bazi Village; in the past, large drums were carried manually, featuring competitions along the way with continuous sounds of firecrackers and drumbeats. Today, the "Drum King Competition" is held to promote the superb drum-playing tradition of Bazi Village.
