Diyi Hall Introduction
Diyi Hall, also known as Diyi Tang or Yuanshuai Temple, was established in 1873 by the Lin family of Banqiao following the Xianfeng period's conflict between Quanzhou and Zhangzhou. It was erected to honor the martial artists and brave souls who died in battle. The main deity, General Xu, whose birth name is Xu Cai, was a martial arts master hired by the Lin Benyuan family. During the Xianfeng ninth year (1859), he and twelve other courageous warriors sacrificed their lives in the conflict, leading the Lin family to fund the construction of the shrine to commemorate them. The main structure features a three-bay design with two dragon guardians, and the front door is adorned with images of door gods holding swords and seals, resembling traditional temples. The remaining structure showcases traditional craftsmanship. Representing the Hakka people's participation in the Quanzhou-Zhangzhou conflict, it holds significant historical value. In 2013, it was designated as a historical monument by New Taipei City, and over ten million NT dollars were allocated for restoration efforts to preserve this precious cultural heritage. The New Taipei City Government began restoration and reutilization projects in 2018, which took two years to complete. Parts of the main hall and courtyard have been opened to the public, and future plans include combining it with the Banqiao Lin Family Garden to periodically hold Banqiao Old City tours led by volunteer teachers, connecting with Ci Hui Temple, Jie Yun Temple, and the Dazhong Temple to form the four major ancient temples of Banqiao, thereby constructing the cultural characteristics of "Fangqiao Ancient City."
