Polar Shrine Introduction
The Beiji Palace was established in the 25th year of the Qianlong reign (1760 AD) when immigrants from Zhangzhou brought the incense of Xuantian Shangdi (the Dark Emperor) to Da Pu Township, formerly known as "Hou Da Pu Zhuang," and regarded it as their permanent residence. After many instances of divine intervention, Mr. Huang A-xie, the head of the community at that time, initiated the construction of a small temple and carved a statue for worship, making it over 240 years old today. During this period, villagers and gentlemen made vows to renovate it multiple times, allowing the incense to continue, making it a center of worship for the people of Da Pu Township. The current structure was completed in the 73rd year of the Republic of China after the Beiji Palace Management Committee determined that the beams and columns were infested with insects and structurally unstable, thus deciding to rebuild and raised funds for construction. Beiji Palace is located next to the main street in the city and serves as a center of faith for local residents. The architecture is ancient and unique, distinct from modern temples, and it is bustling with worshippers daily. The third day of the third lunar month is an important festive event that is extraordinarily lively. The main deity worshipped in Beiji Palace is Xuantian Shangdi, along with other deities such as Shennong, Jade Emperor, Fude Zhengshen, Taishang Laojun, Zhusha Niangniang, Zhongtanyuan Shuai, Mazu, and Guanyin. At the front of Beiji Palace are two pairs of large stone lions, with the male lion either hanging a coin or stepping on a ball, while the female lion stands on a small lion. Folklore suggests that those wishing for children should first touch the male lion and then the female lion to signify the "ball child" (seeking children).
