Kueixing Tower Introduction
The Kueikau, known as "Kwei Hsing Tower" by the locals in Kinmen, is also referred to as Kuei Tower or Bagua Tower. It is dedicated to Kwei Hsing, one of the Five Scholars in Chinese culture. Since Kinmen was not part of any county in the past, a Confucian temple could not be built. In order to provide a place for locals to pray for academic success before participating in the imperial examinations, Lin Fei-chang, a scholar who had achieved the "Gongsheng" title, initiated its construction. He personally donated a thousand taels of silver, and in the 16th year of the Daoguang era (1836), a tower was built on the Tou Mountain of Houpu Village (next to the current Chen Shiyin Western House) to worship Kwei Hsing. With exquisite and ancient craftsmanship, it has a history of over 180 years. It was repaired twice in 1955 and 1963, but its original appearance was preserved and it was designated as a county historical site. The Kueikau is a two-story, three-eave, hexagonal building, with a structure that highlights a simple and spirited wooden construction technique, reflecting the simplicity of this educational building. Each year during the examination season, a series of worship activities are held to pray for the success of the candidates in their academic pursuits.
