An old wooden historical temple . Got dedicate Koji pottery. Worth to visit this peaceful place.
Very nice place
Zhenxing Temple in Cifu Village, Xuejia Township, is an important ancient temple in Xuejia, Tainan. Dedicated to Baosheng Dadi (the God of Life), it was built in the 40th year of the Kangxi Emperor's reign (1701) and designated a third-grade historical site in 1985. Unlike Xuejia Ciji Temple, Zhenxing Temple is one of the core religious sites of the "Thirteen Villages of Xuejia," renowned for its well-preserved Jiaozhi pottery and paper-cutting art.
Historical Development
• Built during the Kangxi era, it was originally built by immigrants from Zhangzhou to worship Baosheng Dadi and pray for peace and prosperity during their land reclamation.
• It underwent several renovations during the Qianlong, Jiaqing, and Xianfeng periods of the Qing Dynasty, and renowned craftsmen were hired to produce Jiaozhi pottery and paper-cutting art.
• Continuous repairs were carried out during the Japanese occupation, with a larger scale after renovations during the Showa era.
• Designated a third-grade historical site in 1985, it became an important cultural asset of Tainan City.
Architectural Features
• The main building is a three-section, three-bay structure, including the Sanchuan Hall, the main hall, and the rear hall, with a complete layout.
• The roof ridge adopts a "dragon" design, with beautiful proportions and upturned swallowtails, showcasing the characteristics of Minnan temples.
• The temple preserves a large number of Koji pottery and cut-and-paste works, with vivid figures and bright colors, considered artistic treasures.
• The stone drums and stone pillows in front of the hall are preserved from the Xianfeng period, with exquisite carvings.
**Religious Features**
• The main deity is Baosheng Dadi, with secondary deities including Sanguan Dadi, Zhongtan Yuanshuai, and Huye.
• The rear hall enshrines Guanyin Buddha, Zhusheng Niangniang, Fude Zhengshen, and the Eighteen Arhats.
• Every year in the third month of the lunar calendar, the "Xuejia Incense Offering" is held, combined with the Shangbaijiao Ancestral Worship Ceremony, one of the five major incense offerings in Southern Taiwan, and registered as an important national folk custom.
• The religious sphere encompasses the "Thirteen Villages of Xuejia," forming the core of local cohesion.
**Accessibility**
• The temple courtyard is spacious and frequently hosts celebrations and folk activities, creating a lively atmosphere.
• Conveniently located near Xuejia Market, but parking is difficult due to narrow alleys. It's recommended to park outside and walk in.
• The temple houses a pilgrim's building and a cultural building, providing accommodation and activity space for worshippers.
Overall Assessment
Zhenxing Temple is not only a religious center but also one of Tainan's best-preserved centers for Jiaozhi pottery and paper-cutting art. It blends history, architecture, and folk culture, serving as a spiritual anchor for the local community and an important window for tourists to understand Tainan's everyday culture.
Jiali Xingzhenxing Temple, located at No. 325 Lihua, Jiali District, Tainan City, primarily enshrines "Qingshui Zushi," "Leifu Dajiang," and "Lifu Qiansui." Built in the first year of the Yongzheng Emperor's reign (1723), it is the religious center of the Jiali Xing community and the main temple of the thirteen villages in the five Jia areas of Jiali Xing, boasting a history of over 300 years. In November 1985, it was designated a third-grade historical site by the Ministry of the Interior. However, after the amendment of the Cultural Heritage Preservation Act in 1997, this designation was abolished, and it became a county-level historical site. Following the merger and upgrade of Tainan City and County in 2010, it became a municipal-level historical site.
The temple grounds are relatively flat. Although the temple buildings are new after renovation, they retain an ancient charm. In particular, the temple's treasures include (Ye Wang) Jiaozhi pottery, some of which are over a century old; (Wang Bao) paper-cut art; (Cai Caoru) painted door gods; and (Chen Renshui) wood carvings, all of which are artistic masterpieces. After watching it, I felt like I had visited an art gallery; I learned a great deal and didn't want to leave!
**Jiali Xingzhenxing Temple** was founded in 1723 (the first year of the Yongzheng Emperor's reign) and was initially named "Qingshui Palace," primarily dedicated to the Qingshui Patriarch. After being damaged by an earthquake in 1862 (the first year of the Tongzhi Emperor's reign), it was rebuilt and renamed "Zhenxing Palace." The temple also added the Lei Fu General and the Li Fu Thousand-Year-Old, a branch spirit of the Nankunshen, creating a unique "three-gods worshipped together" feature rarely seen in Taiwan.
The temple is renowned for the works of the Jiaozhi pottery master Ye Wang, including over 40 ceramic sculptures such as "The Indigenous People Carrying the Temple Corner" and "The Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea," hailed as "Taiwan's unique skill." It was listed as a third-grade historical site in 1985 and is now a municipal historical site.
### **Famous Anecdotes**
The temple's legend tells of the origin of the "Hanban Carrying the Temple Corner": It is said that in the early Qing Dynasty, five Han Chinese families—Wang, Cai, Zeng, Huang, and Xu—united to defeat the Pingpu tribes. They erected a ceramic statue of a non-Han Chinese at the temple corner, symbolizing the Pingpu tribes' submission. The original Pingpu sacrificial vessels, such as the urn and general's pillar, were moved to the altar, thus ending the Alizu (Han Chinese) ancestral worship ceremony and concealing the history of the rise and fall of Han and non-Han power.
Furthermore, during the Japanese occupation, the statue was decapitated, but later restored with a wooden head, becoming a rare "wooden and clay" statue, a testament to religious conflict and the resilience of craftsmanship.
