Renwu Temple, Chiayi Introduction
The well-known historical site, Renwu Temple, dates back to the Ming Dynasty during the Qinglong reign when Zheng Chenggong established Taiwan as his base to overthrow the Qing dynasty. During this time, many immigrants from Zhangzhou and Quanzhou in mainland China came to Taiwan for land cultivation. People from Tong'an County in Quanzhou brought the statue of Baosheng Dadi along with them to pray for blessings. In the 27th year of the Yongli reign (1673), Zheng Jing moved troops from Renwu Township (now Renwu District in Kaohsiung) to the Zhuluo area (now Chiayi City) during his western expedition, where soldiers from Quanzhou also brought the statue of Baosheng Dadi to be worshiped as the guardian deity. In the 31st year of the Yongli reign (1677), the soldiers built a small shrine to honor him, marking the early establishment of Renwu Temple. In the 40th year of the Kangxi reign (1701), the magistrate of Zhuluo, Mao Fenglun, advocated for the construction of a temple, commemorating the main deity worshiped by the soldiers from Renwu Township, naming it Renwu Temple, the oldest temple dedicated to Baosheng Dadi in the Chiayi area. After the temple was built, it underwent several renovations and expansions during the Yongzheng, Qianlong, Jiaqing, Daoguang, and Xianfeng eras. In the 13th year of the Showa era (1938), under the policy of cultural assimilation, the city magistrate ordered the closure of 63 temples and confiscated all temple properties for Japanese ownership. The statue of Baosheng Dadi was moved to the Chenghuang Temple, with the temple property occupied by the Japanese. This destruction resulted in the loss of numerous cultural relics in Renwu Temple, a significant loss for historical preservation. After World War II ended in the 34th year of the Republic of China (1945), local gentry in Chiayi pooled resources to repurchase the rights to Renwu Temple and rebuilt it. On the first day of the first lunar month in the 36th year of the Republic of China (1947), the statue of Baosheng Dadi was welcomed back to the temple, allowing for the restoration of worship. In the 50th year of the Republic of China (1961), further renovations were conducted, including repairs to the main hall's walls and roof, along with newly built pavilions and corridors from cement, while keeping original wooden columns alongside cement ones for support. Renwu Temple is grand in scale, with intricately carved beams and painted roofs, featuring colorful glazed tiles and lively floral and bird sculptures. Today, the entire temple structure is primarily made of camphor wood, preserved for its historical value, with artistic decorations by Master Pan Lishui. Despite multiple renovations, the original appearance of the temple has been maintained, showcasing exquisite paintings, stone carvings, wood sculptures, and ridge decorations that present a majestic atmosphere. There is a stone incense burner in the temple that has been in place for thirty years, originally dedicated to the Da Dao Gong deity. Due to the perceived effectiveness of the temple's fortune sticks, many visitors come to seek guidance. According to the temple, many believers claim to be "godchildren" of Baosheng Dadi, which is a folk custom aimed at seeking divine blessings.
