Cihua Temple Introduction
Liugui Village's Cihua Temple is dedicated to Dong Gong Zhenren, who is regarded as the Buddha of the Wang clan in Yizhu Township. It is recorded that he was one of the guardian deities when the Wang clan from Anxi, Fujian, settled in Erzhuwai Village during the late Qing Dynasty's Kangxi period. Born in the late Sui Dynasty and raised in the Jiangnan region, he exhibited exceptional talent in his youth and viewed wealth and status as insignificant amidst the chaos of his times. This led him to cultivate a life of asceticism, taking refuge in Huxi and refining himself at Jiaoling, ultimately achieving enlightenment in southern Fujian and manifesting divine powers in Tongcheng. Originally from the Western heavens, Dong Gong Zhenren, an ancient Buddha, descended to the Eastern lands as a high monk. He acquired early mastery of Zen, delved deeply into Daoist teachings, unveiling profound mysteries and achieving true enlightenment, leading to a tranquil heart. He vanquished demons, attained a pure state, continually opened expedient gates of Dharma, and assisted beings in the human realm, expounding teachings to guide later generations, hence being conferred the title of Jade-Sealed Compassionate Saving Virtuous Heavenly Honored One. His prominence in the Anxi Kebang Jinbao Hall manifested in Cihua Temple, where he is also referred to as "Old Ancestor" along with six other true immortals: Dong, Xu, Yang, Xu, Wu, Xue, and Zhao. Many of the Wang clan in Yizhu Township are descendants of the Wang clan from Anxi Kebang, having flourished for nine generations, and Dong Gong Zhenren is believed to have protected them. During the late Qing period, descendants of Wang Guixi and Wang Binkui took turns to offer worship, and now two statues known as the Great Dong and the Third Dong are enshrined at Cihua Temple, with the Second Dong enshrined at Bixing Palace in Yizhu Village. It is understood that during the late Kangxi period, when Dong Gong Zhenren was first enshrined in Yizhu, he was offered in a public hall format. Later, as descendants of Wang Guixi and Wang Binkui became successful and established ancestral halls, he was then enshrined within these halls. The construction of Cihua Temple was prompted by the miraculous manifestations of Dong Gong Zhenren and the compassion he showed in saving beings, leading to support from esteemed devotees. The villagers, led by Mr. Wang Xintai (the first provincial councilor), donated the land, while fellow villagers Wang Tianhua, Wang Guojing, and other faithful initiated the planning and design, adopting a Song-dynasty palace architectural style. With the sincere donations from many pious men and women, the temple was completed in May of the 62nd year of the Republic of China, with a grand opening and ceremonial fire placement, naming it Cihua Temple. It is established that November 27 of the lunar calendar is Dong Gong Zhenren's birthday. A stage has been built in the temple courtyard, and the left wing is designated for future expansion for meetings and hospitality for followers.
