Kaohsiung Fengyi Kaizhang Shengwang Temple Introduction
The Kaisyuan Temple, located on Zhongyi Street in Fengshan, Kaohsiung, was built during the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty and has a history of over two hundred years. It is listed among the four ancient temples of Fengshan, alongside Shuangci Pavilion, Chenghuang Temple, and Longshan Temple. The main deity worshipped is Chen Yuanguang, who was a military official credited with pacifying the southern barbarians during the reign of Emperor Gaozong of the Tang Dynasty. There are also statues of General Ma Ren and General Li Boyao, and the decorative paintings of the temple's main entrance were created by the national treasure-level painter Pan Lishui. Despite undergoing multiple renovations over the past two centuries, the temple retains intricate stone carvings and boasts a magnificent atmosphere, preserving a strong sense of ancient simplicity. This temple is renowned for its vibrant incense offerings and miraculous occurrences, making it an important center of faith in the area and one of the largest Kaisyuan Temples in Taiwan. The spacious plaza outside the temple has also become a significant venue for various competitive performances and wedding celebrations.
