Beibing Ye, Wind Chicken Introduction
In Greater Kinmen, people are familiar with the Wind Lion God; in Little Kinmen (Lieyu), there are two local symbols of wind-suppressing and evil-defeating—Beifengye (North Wind God) and Wind Chicken. While both are folk beliefs aimed at combating natural disasters, their origins, images, and functions are independent, together forming the unique belief landscape of Little Kinmen. Beifengye, also known as Beifang Wang, Fengwang Gong, or Heimian Fengwang, is a guardian deity established by the residents of Little Kinmen to suppress the strong northern winds during winter. The statue has a dark face, wears a python robe, holds a pagoda, and presents a solemn demeanor, facing north, symbolizing the calming of winds and protection of the village boundaries. The currently visible Beifengye is located along the road between western Lieyu and Houzai Village, and is one of the most representative local deities of Little Kinmen. The Wind Chicken comes from another long-standing legend. It is said that in the past, Little Kinmen suffered from consecutive years of droughts, pestilence, and strong winds, causing great suffering among the people. One day, a divine chicken with a red crown and white feathers flew from afar, and wherever it landed, the land regained vitality. To express gratitude for its miraculous deeds, residents began to place mud sculptures of Wind Chickens at the edges of villages or on rooftops as symbols of wind suppression, evil repulsion, and ant prevention. Today, in settlements such as Huangcuo, Xifang, Nantang, and Dongkeng, Wind Chicken statues can still be seen on rooftops or at village entrances, representing the unique cultural landscape of the Lieyu area.
