Baoan Temple Introduction
Located next to the Yehliu Fishing Port in Wanli District, Bao'an Temple is dedicated to the "K’ai-chang Sheng-wang," the most revered deity among local fishermen and a source of their spiritual sustenance. According to the accounts of the elders, the origin of the deity stems from the discovery of a ship filled with building materials and a statue of the god by early settlers at sea. The villagers sought a place for the deity, ultimately selecting the current site of Bao'an Temple. The original temple was smaller, primarily constructed of stone, with materials that had been transported across the sea. Over the years, it has undergone numerous repairs and expansions, and most of its original structure has disappeared, leaving behind only a few stone bases and platforms for future generations to remember. The belief in the protective deity "K’ai-chang Sheng-wang" in the Wanli area has a long history, and the "Yehliu Deity Cleansing Port Cultural Festival" held on the 15th day of the first lunar month has been celebrated for over a century. It is one of the few intangible cultural heritage events listed under folk customs, comparable to the Lantern Festival and "North Sky Lanterns, South Firecrackers" in terms of prominence; its most distinctive feature is the theme of "coming from the water and going through the fire." The rituals include four major activities: "Cleansing the Sea and Sailing," "Full Hold of Catch," "Cleansing the Port," and "Passing Through the Fire," making it a unique century-old traditional religious ceremony in Taiwan.
