Hou Liao San Shi Ren Temple Introduction
The origin of the San Thirty People Temple, according to the inscription within the temple, dates back to 1622 when the Dutch sent warships to invade Matsu. Thirty-six residents of Huojing Islet took small boats to confront them, but they were outnumbered and all were killed. The villagers found their bodies along the coast and buried them on site. Later, the villagers constructed the "Nanpu Temple" to worship them, commonly referred to as the "San Thirty People Temple." The current appearance that we see was rebuilt in 2017 with contributions from worshippers. In front of the San Thirty People Temple is a tidal zone, which is a great spot for locals to dig for thick-shelled clams during low tide. There is also a bike path along the side where visitors can enjoy the sea view and admire the large sculpture titled "Hi Mouse," created by artist Hong Yi. The Taiwanese pronunciation of dolphin is "hai shu" (海鼠), so the porcelain-style Hi Mouse combines the image of a dolphin with that of a mouse. The sculpture depicts various attractions, flora, and fauna of Penghu, as well as historical sites, and features the words "Hi" and "Mouse" on its ears. Nearby, there is also a circular tile, "Peng Pai You Qing," created by artist Huang Bo-Wei, which incorporates elements unique to Penghu, such as Tithonia diversifolia (Mexican sunflower), cacti, and stone weirs. Additionally, a noteworthy site in Houliao is the Shigandang located at the Weiling Temple courtyard. According to legend, during the Daoguang period of the Qing Dynasty, there were various monsters and ghosts causing trouble in the "Fengkengkou" area between Houliao and Tongliang. In 1842, the Emperor Baosheng, worshipped at Weiling Temple, instructed the establishment of a stone tablet inscribed with the four characters "Chi Mei Wang Liao" (魑魅魍魎) to ward off the evil spirits, making it a rare dated stone monument in Penghu.
