Renwu Temple, Chiayi Introduction
In the Ming Dynasty during the Yongli period, Zheng Chenggong used Taiwan as a base to aspire to overthrow the Qing Dynasty. At this time, many immigrants from the Zhang and Quan regions in mainland China came to Taiwan to cultivate the land. Among them were individuals from Tong'an County in Quanzhou Prefecture who brought with them the statue of Baosheng Dadi to pray for his protection while clearing the land in Taiwan. In the 27th year of Yongli (1673), Zheng Jing relocated his troops stationed in the Fengshan area (now Renwu Township, Kaohsiung County) to the Zhuluo area (now Chiayi City). The Quanzhou soldiers also brought the statue of Baosheng Dadi to the Zhuluo area as a guardian deity for both military and civilians. In the 31st year of Yongli (1677), the soldiers built a small shrine to worship him, marking the early establishment of the Renwu Temple. By the 40th year of the Kangxi period in the Qing Dynasty (1701), the Zhuluo county magistrate, Mao Fenglun, advocated for the temple's construction and commemorated the main deity worshiped by the soldiers from Renwu. He named the temple Renwu Temple, making it the oldest temple dedicated to Baosheng Dadi in the Chiayi area. After the establishment of Renwu Temple, it underwent multiple renovations and expansions during the Yongzheng, Qianlong, Jiaqing, Daoguang, and Xianfeng periods. In the 13th year of the Showa era (1938), the city official Chuan Tianxiu (dates unknown) ordered the demolition of 63 temples in the city as part of the Japanese assimilation policy, confiscating all temple properties for Japanese control. The statue of Baosheng Dadi was relocated to the Chenghuang Temple, while the temple property was taken over by Japanese individuals and opened as the Nán Hé Commercial Firm. This destruction caused substantial damage to many cultural relics within Renwu Temple, resulting in a significant loss in the preservation of historical artifacts. After World War II ended in the 34th year of the Republic of China (1945), local gentlemen in Chiayi pooled resources to reclaim the ownership of Renwu Temple and rebuilt it. On the first day of the first lunar month in the 36th year of the Republic of China (1947), they welcomed the return of Baosheng Dadi to the temple to restore worship. In the 50th year of the Republic of China (1961), further renovations were made, restoring the temple walls and roof, and new cement columns were built to support the main hall, while original wooden beams were also retained. Renwu Temple exudes grandeur, with intricately carved beams and painted rafters, a colorful glazed roof, and vivid depictions of flowers, birds, and figures. Today, the entire structure of Renwu Temple is made of camphor wood, preserving its high value. The deities guarding the entrance are artistically painted by Master Pan Lishui, adding artistic value to the temple. Despite multiple renovations, the original appearance of the temple remains intact, with exquisite paintings, stone carvings, wood carvings, clay sculptures, and ridge decorations, demonstrating a majestic force. Inside Renwu Temple, there is a thirty-year-old stone incense burner originally dedicated to the Da Dao Gong statue. Because the temple's fortune-telling sticks are believed to be effective, many visitors come to seek divination. According to the temple authorities, numerous devotees consider themselves Baosheng Dadi's "godchildren," which is a local custom to seek divine blessings.
