Eastern Dragon Horse Introduction
The large bell bowls and wooden fish stone towers located on the east and west sides of Jibei Island Harbor are not ordinary buildings; they are the Stone Guardian used to protect Jibei, commonly referred to as "East Bell, West Drum." The Stone Guardians in Penghu are similar to the Wind Lion Gods in Kinmen, representing a unique belief developed by the island's residents. Due to being surrounded by the sea, experiencing lengthy northeast monsoons in winter, and having poor soil unsuitable for farming, the early conditions were unfavorable, compounded by past epidemics believed to be caused by malevolent spirits. To pray for safety, the culture of Stone Guardians in Penghu thus originated. Stone Guardians can take the form of towers, stone tablets, or talismans, typically placed around villages, by the sea, on hillsides, and at road junctions. They are not only a part of the daily faith of Penghu residents but also represent the local cultural characteristics. The two Stone Guardians at Jibei Island Harbor are said to have been revealed by the Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara, who instructed the village elders in a dream to build them for the protection of the residents and to promote local prosperity. Therefore, on the east side of the harbor, a yellow bowl-shaped stone tower called "Dragon Horse" was constructed, while a red wooden fish stone tower was built on the west side. The rocks beside the stone towers bear the inscriptions "Eastern Dragon Horse Strengthens the Mountains and Rivers" and "Western Realm, Sea Clouds Fly with the Sun and Moon," highlighting the spirit of Jibei. The two Stone Guardians correspond to the "Evening Drum" and "Morning Bell" of the Guanyin Temple on the island, making them important cultural assets of Jibei.
