Yong'an Temple, Xinshi Introduction
Xinshi Yong'an Temple is dedicated to the Matsu, also known as "Muzha Matsu." It refers to "Muzha Harbor" before the siltation of the Taijung Inner Sea, with the temple located beside the waterway, attracting numerous devotees. Due to flooding and epidemics, the populace migrated to higher ground, gradually forming a market, which is the origin of today's "Xinshi" place name. The temple's architecture is built in a Minnan-style wooden structure without using a single nail, offering a small yet beautiful design that allows for close appreciation of its wooden construction. During the 2018 renovation, they invited the artist Liao Qingzhang, who has received the Traditional Arts and Culture Award, to paint the temple's door gods, beams, and door panels. Liao's artistic style combines landscape and calligraphy, creating a unique scholarly ambiance at Yong'an Temple.
