Neimen Zizhu Temple Introduction
Neimen Purple Bamboo Temple, with a history of over 300 years, was originally the guardian deity of the Guo family. Due to a legendary story of Guanyin Buddha's "Flying Incense Burner" revealing its divinity, the local villagers jointly built the temple. Its divine powers have spread far and wide across Taiwan, attracting numerous devotees. As the temple has undergone multiple renovations over time, it has become one of the most historically significant and large-scale "Guanyin Temples" in the province. Neimen Purple Bamboo Temple is not only the faith center of the Neimen District but also an important temple for believers across Taiwan to worship and pray for blessings. The grand festivals on the lunar calendar dates of February 19, June 19, and September 19, which mark the Buddha's birthday, enlightenment, and ordination, respectively, draw large numbers of devotees, making the usually tranquil Neimen District almost erupt with activity. The temple's surroundings are lush with greenery, featuring small bridges and flowing water, while the artificial spring water gushing from the lotus-shaped fountain often captivates tourists. According to legend, during the Kangxi era of the Qing Dynasty, Guo clan immigrants settled on the southern end of Banzu Road. One day, the incense burner dedicated to Guanyin Bodhisattva repeatedly flew out on its own and landed on a guava tree branch at the current site of Purple Bamboo Temple. This location is known as a "lotus spot" in feng shui, and the locals regarded it as a miracle, prompting a collective decision to build a temple here to honor Guanyin Buddha. Subsequently, even more miracles were reported, deepening the residents’ devotion to this temple and ensuring the incense burned continuously, displaying a magnificent scene of worship that persists to this day. The temple mainly venerates Guanyin, and during the Qianlong period, a naval officer passing by noticed the flourishing incense and deemed it a remarkable sight. He kneeled inside and wrote the plaque saying "Purple Bamboo Brings Spring," which officially named the temple as Purple Bamboo Temple; this plaque is well-preserved inside the temple today. Neimen Nanhai Purple Bamboo Temple - Song Jiang Battle Array The Neimen District in Kaohsiung is known as a hub for traditional performing arts, housing the largest number of folk art troupes in the country. The most famous of these is the Neimen Song Jiang Battle Array folk event, which has its origins in the retinue accompanying Buddha’s procession at Luohan Gate and has a history of over 200 years. It is recognized as one of Taiwan's religious highlights, with performances rotating among Neimen Purple Bamboo Temple, Shunxian Palace, and Nanhai Purple Bamboo Temple each year.
