Yehliu Baoan Temple Introduction
Located next to the Yehliu Fishing Port in Wanli District, Bao'an Temple is dedicated to the "Kaizhang Shengwang," the most revered deity among local fishermen and a source of spiritual solace. According to the elders’ accounts, the origin of this deity can be traced back to the time when ancestors accidentally discovered a ship at sea filled with materials for building a temple and a statue of the king. The villagers sought a place for it and chose the current site of Bao'an Temple. The earlier temple was smaller, primarily built of stone, and the materials that crossed the seas have largely disappeared over time due to numerous renovations and expansions. Today, only some stone pillars and bases remain for future generations to reminisce about the past. The faith in the "Kaizhang Shengwang," the guardian deity of the Wanli area, has a long history. The "Yehliu Deity Cleansing Port Cultural Festival," held annually on the 15th day of the first lunar month, has a history of over a century. It is one of the few folk events registered as an intangible cultural asset and is celebrated alongside the Lantern Festival and the "North Sky Lantern, South Firecrackers" events. Its most distinctive feature is "coming from the water, going through fire." The rituals include four main activities: "Cleansing the Sea and Navigating," "Full Hold of Catch," "Deity Cleansing the Port," and "Deity Passing Through Fire," making it a unique traditional religious ceremony in Taiwan with a history of over a hundred years.
