Dalongdong Baoan Temple Introduction
Dalongdong Bao'an Temple, established in 1742 and rebuilt in 1805, is primarily dedicated to Baosheng Dadi, commonly known as "Dalongdong Temple" or "Dadao Temple," and is a designated national historic site. Every year on the 15th day of the 3rd lunar month, a two-month celebration called the "Baosheng Cultural Festival" is held to commemorate the birthday of Baosheng Dadi, combining religious rituals, folk crafts, historic site tours, cultural workshops, aesthetic competitions, clan operas, street parades, fire-walking, health care, and academic seminars. This is the most grand and lively temple fair event in northern Taiwan, making Dalongdong a significant cultural hub. The decorative arts of Dalongdong Bao'an Temple, including stone lions, dragon columns, floral birds, paper-cutting, clay sculptures, tire-tie pottery, wood carvings, and painted murals, are renowned artistic treasures, each carrying historical and artistic value. When the temple was constructed, craftsmen Guo Ta and Chen Yingbin were hired to create wood carvings, reflecting a healthy competition popular at that time. Therefore, when appreciating the decorative arts of the temple, visitors can simultaneously enjoy works by different craftsmen on both sides. The seven murals in the main hall's corridor are the creations of national treasure-level painter Pan Lishui, attracting both domestic and international tourists who are captivated and amazed. Dalongdong Bao'an Temple has transformed from a local temple into a space that integrates religion, culture, education, and art, profoundly impacting the revitalization of local culture in the Datong District of Taipei City. The restoration and preservation of its historic architecture have garnered significant attention both domestically and internationally. Since its reconstruction, the temple has undergone numerous repairs and extensions, but due to the age of the structure, it has been severely affected by weather and pests, compromising its safety and aesthetics. To preserve this cultural heritage, a large-scale restoration project commenced in 1995, which was the largest since its reconstruction. The temple raised all funds independently and managed the project itself, becoming the first private-funded case in the country for historic site restoration. The restoration project received the "2003 UNESCO Asia-Pacific Heritage Award for Cultural Heritage Conservation" and was designated a national historic site in 2019. Sishikankan Street is located on Hami Street, west of Bao'an Temple, established in the seventh year of the Jiaqing Emperor (1802), and completed the following year. At that time, local merchants Wang Zhiji and Chen Lanji jointly established the "Jintongcheng" business, constructing a row of twenty-two southern-style shops on this street. In Holo language, each shop is called a "kan," hence the name Sishikankan. Each shop measures the same size, 1.77 meters wide and 3 entrances deep with a waterway (courtyard), and the veranda (eaves) connects the shops, forming a uniform streetscape. There is a gate at both the east and west ends to prevent theft, with the east inscribed "Little City Melodies" and the west "Dalongtong." As the market prospered, the area gradually developed westward towards "Neitudi Gong" (He'an Temple), leading to the original Sishikankan Street being referred to as "Ding Street" and the new street as "Xiajie."
