Renwu Temple, Chiayi Introduction
The Rénwǔ Temple, a city-designated historical site with a rich heritage, dates back to the Ming Dynasty during the Yongli period when Zheng Chenggong used Taiwan as a base to strive against the Qing Dynasty. During this time, many ancestral settlers from Zhangzhou and Quanzhou began to migrate to Taiwan for cultivation. Among them were people from Tong'an County in Quanzhou who brought the statue of the Baosheng Dadi with them to pray for protection as they settled the land. In the 27th year of Yongli (1673), during Zheng Jing's expedition westward, the troops stationed in the Fengshan area (now Renwu Township in Kaohsiung County) were transferred to the Zhuluo area (now Chiayi City). The Quanzhou military officers also brought the Baosheng Dadi statue to Zhuluo to serve as the guardian spirit for the military and civilians. In the 31st year of Yongli (1677), the soldiers built a small shrine to worship the deity, marking the early establishment of Rénwǔ Temple. By the 40th year of the Kangxi era (1701), the Zhuluo magistrate, Mao Fenglun, advocated for the construction of the temple, commemorating the main deity who had been honored by the soldiers from Rénwǔ Township, giving the temple the name Rénwǔ Temple, making it the oldest temple honoring Baosheng Dadi in the Chiayi region. After the establishment of the temple, it underwent several repairs and expansions during the periods of Yongzheng, Qianlong, Jiaqing, Daoguang, and Xianfeng. In 1938, under the Japanese influence, the city authority ordered the closure and demolition of 63 temples for the implementation of Japanization policies. The statue of Baosheng Dadi was transferred to Chenghuang Temple, and the temple's assets were taken over by the Japanese. This destruction resulted in significant damage to the historical artifacts within Rénwǔ Temple, representing a significant loss for cultural preservation. After World War II in 1945, local gentry in Chiayi pooled funds to reclaim the rights to Rénwǔ Temple and rebuilt it. On the first day of the lunar new year in 1947, the statue of Baosheng Dadi was ceremoniously returned to the temple, allowing the festival worship to resume. In 1961, further renovations took place, including the reconstruction of the front temple walls and roof, new cement columns for the four-pillar pavilion, as well as newly constructed corridors and worship halls. The main hall features a combination of original wooden columns and cement columns. The Rénwǔ Temple boasts an impressive architectural style with intricate carvings and colorful roofing tiles, depicting flowers, birds, and figures vibrantly and realistically. The entire temple is constructed of camphor wood, preserving its structural value, and the painted guardian statues at the entrance are works of Master Pan Lishui, adding artistic merit to its significance. Despite multiple renovations, the original appearance of the temple has been well-preserved, showcasing exquisite craftsmanship in the painted decorations, stone carvings, wood sculptures, and mud figurines, with a majestic atmosphere. Inside Rénwǔ Temple, there is a stone incense burner over thirty years old, originally dedicated to the Datou God. Due to the reputation of the oracle sticks in the temple being effective, many visitors come to seek divinations. It is said that numerous believers self-claim to be "godchildren" of Baosheng Dadi, which is a folk custom seeking divine blessings for healing.
