Shiguan Yin Jixian Temple Introduction
In the 2nd year before the founding of the Republic of China, during the Japanese occupation, the natural camphor trees in Wucheng Village, Xinxing Village were of excellent quality. The Japanese valued camphor oil, and the employees who produced camphor oil were called "Náoding." While transporting camphor, one Náoding suddenly experienced severe abdominal pain after a meal and fainted at this location. A worker, in a hurry, noticed a small amount of water under a stone and quickly drank it. The abdominal pain was cured, and he felt revitalized. Three years later, on the Dragon Boat Festival in the first year of the Republic (1912), sudden dark clouds brought strong winds and heavy rain, causing landslides that exposed seven stone lotus flowers. The next day, coolies from Jiji saw this and promptly spread the news, attracting about twenty to thirty Náoding to visit. Subsequently, a well-known local geographer named An suggested the name "Guanyin Sitting Lotus," and initiated a meeting to gather the Náoding to build a temple. In the second year of the Republic, a wooden Guanyin Temple named Jixiang Palace Stone Guanyin Bodhisattva was constructed. Later, the opening of a railway line facilitated transportation, leading to outbreaks of fever and cold, with people appearing pale and experiencing weakness in their limbs. The compassionate Guanyin Bodhisattva of Jixiang Palace revealed her divine presence in dreams, prompting good men and believers to come and fetch clear water. Between the 32nd and 34th years of the Republic, the American forces bombed the Daguan Power Plant, with bombings occurring every three to five days, causing unrest among the populace. The Guanyin Bodhisattva of Jixiang Palace greatly exhibited her divine powers, protecting the local citizens during the bombings without any loss of life. On October 25 of the 34th year of the Republic, Taiwan was unconditionally restored, and the people expressed their gratitude to the Bodhisattva for her compassionate salvation. In the 35th year of the Republic, local gentlemen unanimously decided to rebuild the temple using bricks. By the 71st year of the Republic, after the completion of the Minghu Pumped Storage Power Plant, the road was widened to two lanes, making transportation convenient.
