Chenping Ziwei Temple, Taoist temple in Beitun District, Taiwan
Chenping Ziwei Temple is a Taoist temple in the Beitun District featuring five shrine rooms and two additional chambers, with a main hall containing three sacred spaces and a four-columned pavilion marking its entrance. The layout follows traditional design with distinct areas serving different religious functions.
Construction began in 1825 and finished in 1871, with the building initially serving as a Confucian temple before becoming a Taoist sanctuary. This transformation reflects the region's shifting religious priorities over several decades.
The temple centers on worship of the Three Great Emperors, principal deities in Taoism whose veneration shapes the religious life here through ongoing ceremonies performed by resident priests. This devotion remains a defining element of the site today.
The building underwent comprehensive restoration between 1996 and 1998 to preserve its structural integrity and maintain its historical character. Visitors should take time to notice the traditional furnishings and carefully restored details when exploring the site.
During Japanese administration, sections of the building were converted for use as school classrooms while religious functions continued to be funded through agricultural revenue. This unusual dual purpose shows how the structure adapted to the political circumstances of the time.
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