Eastern Dragon Horse Introduction
The large bell bowls and wooden fish stone towers located on the east and west sides of Jibei Island's harbor are not ordinary structures, but serve as the Stone Gods guarding Jibei, commonly referred to as "East Bell, West Knocks." The Stone Gods of Penghu are unique symbols of faith developed by the island's residents, similar to the Wind Lion God of Kinmen. Due to the surrounding sea, the winter northeastern monsoon lasting up to six months, and the poor soil not conducive to farming, combined with the historical outbreaks of plagues, the ancestors believed these were caused by malevolent spirits. To seek peace, the culture of Stone Gods in Penghu was born. The Stone Gods take the form of towers, stone tablets, or talismans, and are usually placed around villages, by the sea, on hills, and along roads, representing not only the faith of the Penghu people but also a unique local cultural characteristic. The two Stone Gods at Jibei Island's harbor are said to be manifestations of Guanyin Bodhisattva, who instructed the village elders through dreams to build them to protect residents and accelerate local prosperity. Therefore, on the east side of the harbor, a yellow stone tower known as "Dragon Horse" was built, and on the west side, a red wooden fish stone tower was erected, with phrases inscribed on the rocks next to the stone towers reading "The Eastern Dragon Horse Enriches the Mountain and River" and "The Western Sea Cloud Flies with Sun and Moon," highlighting the spirit of Jibei. The two Stone Gods also correspond to the "Evening Drum" and "Morning Bell" of the Guanyin Temple on the island, becoming important cultural assets of Jibei.
