Wenxing Temple Introduction
Deity Enshrined: Qingshui Zushi; Location: Weixinli, formerly known as Zhuzigang, is one of the early developed areas of Yong'an. In the tenth year of the Jiaqing era (1805), believers raised funds to build the village temple - Wenxing Palace, which is primarily dedicated to Qingshui Zushi (Heimian Zushigong), the second patriarch, commonly referred to by followers as "Laozu." The rear hall enshrines the Three Saints of the Western Paradise (Amitabha, Guanyin, and Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva), Manjushri Bodhisattva, and Samantabhadra Bodhisattva. For over 200 years, despite erosion from wind and rain and the temple's aging appearance, it still attracts a steady stream of incense-offering devotees from near and far. During the Japanese colonial period, villagers hid the statue to prevent it from being destroyed by the Japanese. However, due to years of neglect, it was severely damaged and was reconstructed in the 67th year of the Republic of China, taking three years to complete. In the 93rd year of the Republic of China, the front and rear halls were once again refurbished. The gate gods were painted by master temple painter Pan Lishui, and an ancient plaque inscribed with "Understanding the Zen Mechanism" is preserved within the temple. The sixth day of the lunar calendar's first month marks the birthday of Qingshui Zushi, where celebrations extend from the fifth to the seventh day, attracting about 200 large tour buses and countless smaller vehicles for worship. Most devotees come from the Dongshan District and Baihe District of Tainan City and the border with Chiayi County. Additionally, once every four or six years, a prayer and purification ceremony is held, during which Qingshui Zushi leads a group of up to one hundred incense-offering devotees, all of whom eat vegetarian food, on a seven-day, six-night walk to Biyun Temple to pay homage to the ancestors while praying for national prosperity and favorable weather.
