Diyitang Introduction
Diyi Hall, also known as Diyi Tang and colloquially referred to as the Marshal Temple, was established in 1873 by the Lin family of Banqiao after the Xianfeng period's Quianzhan conflict. It is dedicated to the martial artists and brave men who died in battle. The main deity, Xu Yuanshuai, originally named Xu Cai, was a martial arts master hired by the Lin Benyuan family. He died in the Quianzhan conflict in the ninth year of the Xianfeng reign (1859), along with 12 other brave men, leading the Lin family to fund the construction of this temple to honor their spirits. The main building is designed with three bays and two guardian dragons, and the wooden door panels feature painted images of door gods holding swords and seals, resembling traditional temples. The existing structure still showcases traditional craftsmanship. Due to its representation of Hakka people's involvement in the Quianzhan conflict, it holds significant historical value and was registered as a New Taipei City designated historical site in 2013. Over ten million NT dollars were invested in repair projects to preserve this precious cultural asset. The New Taipei City Government began renovation and reuse projects in 2018, taking two years to complete. The main hall and temple courtyard will be partially open to the public, and in the future, events like the Banqiao Ancient City Tour will be held in collaboration with the Banqiao Lin Family Garden, led by volunteer guides, connecting with Cihui Temple, Jieyun Temple, and Dazhong Temple to create the cultural characteristic of "Fangqiao Ancient City."
