Scenic Spots Information
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Houliao Weiling Temple worships Baosheng Dadi (Life Protection Emperor), also called Dadaogong, Master Wu, whose courtesy name is Huaji and art name is Yundong. He was
a native
of Baijao Village, Jishan Borough, Mingsheng Township, Dongan County, Quanzhou Prefecture, Fujian Province, which is present-day Jaomei Town, Longhai County, Zhangzhou City. We demonstrated exceptional talent and Taoist spirit at an early age. Later,
he mastered
cosmology, geography, rituals, and music, particularly medicine, which enabled his name to be spread across the country.
As the origin of Baoshang Dadi worship in Penghu, Houliao Weiling Temple has a history of more than four centuries. With absolute divinity and dignity, Baoshang Dadi was spread to Nanliao and Beiliao village in Huxi Township. Today, Baoshang Dadi still attracts
many devout worshippers and is the main belief system and protection god of the whole of Houliao.
Built in 1602, the Ming dynasty, Houliao Weiling Temple has gone through various rises and falls, regimes, and many times of refurbishment. After the republican China began, the temple was reconstructed with the advice of local gentries and seniors. The second
reconstruction started in 1932. After 63 years, it was rebuilt again in 1996 after a fire in 1995 and completed in 1998. Today, the temple is magnificent and solemn, and tablets recording the causes and processes of each time of reconstruction are erected
in the temple square.
By the Houliao Weiling Temple stands Taiwan’s largest stone guard of about 2m tall built in 1842. It is said that in the fall of 1841, mountain spirits and ghosts caused troubles near the “fengkengkou” between Houliao and Tongliang in front the present-day
Houliao Weiling Temple. As villagers were so afraid and annoyed, they asked for advice from Baoshang Dadi. As the messenger of Baoshang Dadi instructed villagers to erect a “chimimoryo” (with the Chinese radical “rain” on top) tablet to stop them and protect
local residents, no spirit or ghost was spotted thereafter.
The tablet was originally erected at the fierce point and relocated to the left side of Weiling Temple later. It was refurbished many times along with the temple. In 2008 and 2009, the triple base was refurbished. Stone plates were paved and auspicious icons
including deer and cranes were craved. A pair of kylins and guardrails were added as we see today.
The Chimimoryo (with the Chinese radical “rain” on top) tablet is a hundred-year-old talisman. It is also the largest Taoist talisman-typed stone guard in Taiwan. The “stone guard” is believed to be a religious symbol developed uniquely by island residents.
【Recommended length of stay】0.5 hour