North Wind God, Wind Chicken Introduction
In Greater Kinmen, people are familiar with the Wind Lion God, while in Lesser Kinmen (Lieyu), there are two locally significant symbols for warding off the wind and evil spirits—Beifengye (North Wind God) and Wind Chicken. Both serve as folk beliefs to combat natural disasters, but their origins, images, and functions are distinct, together forming a unique spiritual landscape in Lesser Kinmen. Beifengye, also known as Beifang Wang, Feng Wang Gong, or the Black-Faced Wind King, is a guardian established by the residents of Lesser Kinmen to suppress the strong northern winds of winter. The statue has a dark face, wears a python robe, holds a pagoda, and has a solemn demeanor facing north, symbolizing the calming of the winds and protection of the village. The visible Beifengye today is located along the road between the western side of Lieyu and Houzhai Village, and it is one of the most representative local deities in Lesser Kinmen. The Wind Chicken comes from another long-standing legend. It is said that Lesser Kinmen once suffered from prolonged droughts, locust plagues, and wind disasters, causing much suffering among the people. One day, a divine chicken with a red crown and white feathers flew in from afar, bringing vitality to the land wherever it stepped. To commemorate its miracle, residents began to place clay sculptures of Wind Chickens on the edges of villages or rooftops, serving as symbols for calming the wind, warding off evil, and preventing ants. Today, in settlements such as Huangcuo, Xifang, Nantang, and Dongkeng, clay sculptures of Wind Chickens can still be seen on rooftops or at village entrances, representing a distinctive cultural landscape in the Lieyu region.
