Changfu Temple

Changfu Temple
三峽長福巖
Religion
Affiliation	Taoism
Location
Location	Sanxia, New Taipei, Taiwan
Geographic coordinates	24°56′01.6″N 121°22′13.3″E
Architecture
Type	Taoist temple
Completed	1767

Changfu Temple (Chinese: 三峽長福巖; pinyin: Sānxiá Chángfú Yán; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Sam-kiap Tióng-hok-giâm) is a Taoist temple along Sanxia Old Street in Sanxia District, New Taipei, Taiwan. Master Qingshui, known locally as Zushi-Gong (Chinese: 袓師公; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Chó͘-su-kong), is the principal deity worshiped at Changfu Temple.

History

Changfu Temple was first built during the Qing dynasty in 1767 by Hokkien immigrants from Anxi County, Quanzhou Municipality, Fujian Province, in China. It has been reconstructed three times. Its last reconstruction, started in 1947, is best known for being the masterpiece of renowned Taiwanese artist, Li Meishu.

Festivals

Every sixth day of the first month of the Chinese lunar calendar on Zushi-Gong's birthday, Changfu Temple holds a sacred pig (神豬; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Sîn-ti) contest. Farmers would compete by raising the largest pig, which during the competition day, the pig is decorated with ornaments. The largest pig will then be sacrificed to the mountain deities, then the meat will be distributed among the devotees. In the past few years, this tradition has been met with objection by animal rights activists. While the majority of temples that practice this rite have started using symbolic pigs, Changfu Temple in Sanxia still continues the tradition of using an actual pig.

Architecture

Unique among temples, all of the walls and columns of Changfu Temple are sculpted from stone. The details are also carved with a wide variety of styles from ancient to modern, or even western-influenced, due to the western art education of Li Meishu.

Transportation

The temple is accessible south of Yingge Station of Taiwan Railways.

See also

• Master Qingshui
• Bangka Qingshui Temple (艋舺清水巖), Taipei, Taiwan
• Zhouzi Qingshui Temple (清水宮), Kaohsiung, Taiwan
• Chin Swee Caves Temple (清水岩庙), Genting Highlands, Malaysia
• Snake Temple Penang, Malaysia
• Fushan Temple (福山寺), Yangon, Myanmar
• List of temples in Taiwan
• Religion in Taiwan

Gallery

• 
  Inner court of Changufu Temple
• 
  Inner court of Changufu Temple
• 
  Beam details on Changufu Temple
• 
  Roof details above entrance
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  Roof ornamentation
• 
  One of the works by Li Meishu
• 
  Window details. The fish design forms a Yin Yang symbol, surrounded by the bagua symbol.
• 
  Every column is carved with a different design.
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  Painting-like carvings on the walls
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  Altar in temple
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  Ceiling in temple
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  Prayer papers for temple worshippers

External links

• The Art of Changufu Temple
• Photographs of Changufu Temple on Flickr