Sanliao Bay Donglong Temple Introduction
Donglong Temple was established by the early settlers of Sanliaowan, who came to Taiwan across the sea with Zheng Chenggong. To ensure a safe crossing, they invited the statue of Li Fu Qiansui (God of Li) to protect them, and as a gesture of gratitude for the divine protection, they initially built a straw hut to worship. Donglong Temple features traditional Minnan architectural design, enshrining deities including Li, Wen, Wu, Chi Fu Qiansui, and Baosheng Dadi. Inside the temple, there are two permanent royal boats, one wooden and one copper, which were built in 1976. The copper royal boat is the only Quanzhou-style ancient sailing ship in Taiwan, with finely crafted sculptures of sailors and the ship, vividly depicting characters and expressions, embodying significant folkloric artistic value. The royal boat culture and beliefs originate from the Donggang River basin in Pingtung. To promote the unique culture of the hometown of the deities, the temple has established three main thematic halls on the third and fourth floors of the cultural center next to Donglong Temple, including a museum of royal deity artifacts, a Water Margin hero hall, and a hall of ceremonial artifacts, showcasing the power and beauty of religion. The lively "Sending the Royal Boat" event is held every three years, to respectfully send "Wen Wang" on a boat to patrol on behalf of heaven. The wooden royal boat, referred to as "Wen Wang Boat," departs on the first day of the eleventh lunar month, the birthday of Wen Fu Qiansui. The boat first "relocates" to circle the village to receive worship before "sailing" for the cremation ceremony. Believers believe that after patrolling on behalf of heaven, "Wen Wang" will ascend to report to the Jade Emperor and then return to the temple to preside, becoming a renowned religious cultural event in Taiwan!
