Dalongdong Baoan Temple Introduction
Dalongdong Bao'an Temple, established in 1742 and rebuilt in 1805, is dedicated to Baosheng Dadi and is commonly referred to as "Dalongdong Temple" or "Dadaogong Temple." It is a designated national historical site. Every year on the 15th day of the third lunar month, a two-month-long celebration known as the "Baosheng Cultural Festival" is held to commemorate the birthday of Baosheng Dadi. This festival combines religious ceremonies, folk arts, historical site tours, cultural studies, aesthetic competitions, family surname operas, street processions, fire-walks, health care initiatives, and academic seminars. It is the largest and most vibrant temple fair event in northern Taiwan, making Dalongdong an important cultural hub in the region. The decorative arts of Dalongdong Bao'an Temple, including stone lions, dragon columns, floral and avian motifs, paper-cutting, clay sculptures, Chaozhou ceramics, wood carvings, and painted murals, are renowned artistic treasures, each possessing significant historical and artistic value. During its construction, craftsmen Guo Ta and Chen Yingbin were hired, each creating their own wood sculptures, leading to a healthy competition that was popular at the time. Thus, when appreciating the decorative arts of the temple, visitors can enjoy works from the two different craftsmen displayed on either side. The seven murals in the main hall corridor are the creations of the national treasure-level painter Pan Lishu, attracting both domestic and international tourists who are captivated by their beauty. Dalongdong Bao'an Temple has transformed from a local temple into a multifaceted institution encompassing religion, culture, education, and art, having a profound impact on the revitalization of local culture in the Datong District of Taipei. The historical architecture and restoration efforts have also garnered significant attention both domestically and internationally. Since its reconstruction, Dalongdong Bao'an Temple has undergone numerous renovations and expansions. However, due to the age of the building, it has suffered from exposure to wind, sun, and insects, severely affecting its structural integrity and safety. To preserve this cultural heritage, the temple undertook the largest restoration project since its reconstruction in 1995, funding the entire project independently and managing it themselves, becoming the first case of privately-funded historical site restoration in the country. This restoration project was awarded the "2003 Asia-Pacific Culture Heritage Conservation Award" by UNESCO and was designated a national historical site in 2019. Sixty-Four Kanas Street is located to the west of Bao'an Temple on Hami Street, established in the seventh year of the Jiaqing era (1802) and completed the following year. During that time, local merchants such as Wang Zhiji and Chen Lanjin joined together to establish the "Jintongcheng" business, constructing a row of twenty-two Min Nan-style shop houses on this street, divided evenly between the north and south. In Holo language, a shop is referred to as "kan," thus giving the street its name, Sixty-Four Kanas. Each shop is of the same size, measuring about 7.5 feet wide and 12 feet deep, each accommodating a backyard (courtyard) with a connecting arcade, forming a neat row along the street. There are two entrances on the east and west sides to prevent theft, with the east labeled "Xiaoyi Xuangge" and the west "Dalongtong." As commerce flourished, the street gradually expanded westward towards "Nei Tudi Gong" (He'an Temple), thus the original Sixty-Four Kanas Street became known as "Top Street," while the new shops were referred to as "Bottom Street." For further reading, refer to the article on Sixty-Four Kanas Street in Taipei Magazine Issue 615 (Exploring the Dalongdong District and Discovering the Glorious Times of Old Streets).
