Chentan Temple Introduction
Jiantan has a legend that tells of Zheng Chenggong passing through this area with his troops. It is said that water creatures resembling serpents frequently stirred up trouble in the pond, harming many people. In response, Zheng Chenggong threw the treasured sword he wore at the monsters in the pond, and from that moment on, the water became calm. Thus, the pond was named "Jiantan," meaning "Sword Pond," due to Zheng Chenggong's action. According to historical records, Jiantan Temple dates back over 350 years. The Taiwan Provincial Gazetteer mentions "Guanyin Temple, located at Bazilan Jiantan." Furthermore, the Tamsui District Record states that "Jiantan Temple was built in the 38th year of the Qianlong reign by Wu Tinggao and others." There is an inscription describing how a monk named Ronghua encountered a snake blocking his path, consulted divination, and received an auspicious response. Following this, a divine figure appeared in a dream, indicating that eight boats from Shanghai would pass through Keelung, enabling the gathering of funds, which indeed came to fruition, allowing Jiantan Temple to be established. However, it was relocated to its current site in Dazhi during the later period of Japanese rule. Before entering the temple, there is an archway with a green-tiled roof inscribed with the four characters "Jiantan Gusi" (Jiantan Ancient Temple). The narrow alley inside marks the original site of Jiantan Ancient Temple, where remnants of the old temple pillars and stone tablets are preserved among the gardens, leaving traces of history with a deep historical significance.
