Minnan Yujiding San Guan Da Di Temple

Minnan Yujiding San Guan Da Di Temple

Minnan Yujiding San Guan Da Di Temple is a cultural tourism attraction.

Minnan Yujiding San Guan Da Di Temple, also known as Sanguan Gong Temple, is located on the slopes of Yujiding in Shanping Village, Chiling She Ethnic Township, Zhangpu County. Originally built during the Xuande era of the Ming Dynasty (1430) and renovated in the mid-Kangxi period of the Qing Dynasty, the site preserves eight stone steles from the Ming and Qing dynasties. The temple complex covers nearly 60 acres in total area, with a total construction area of about 500 square meters. However, the main temple building is uniquely designed—a round-roofed pavilion rarely seen anywhere in the world, spanning less than 40 square meters in area, with the deities occupying a space of less than 2 square meters. It is said that the sacred site of Sanguan Da Di at Yujiding lies on a “covered tripod gold formation,” making the temple location spiritually potent. It is believed that no wooden or earthen structure can be built here without being destroyed by fire—this has proven true time and again. Divine divination only permitted a stone altar with an open-air roof and hollow walls. This tradition has been established and passed down to this day.

The temple’s architecture is unique, the divine divinations are miraculous, and it is widely revered with flourishing incense offerings. One particularly legendary story is that of Lan Li (a native of Chiling Shiyi She Ethnic Village), known as the “Tiger General of His Generation and Pioneer of the Taiwan Expedition.” During his military service, Lan Li visited the Sanguan Gong Temple to divine with divination blocks (bu bei) and made a vow, taking some ashes from the incense burner and carrying them in a pouch around his neck. During the Battle of Penghu, he was wounded in the abdomen, and his intestines spilled out. He quickly took out the pouch of incense ash and mixed it with powdered “Galangal Incense” wood from the sacred tree, then applied the mixture to his abdominal wound. He carefully pushed his intestines back inside, wrapped the wound tightly with a torn flag, and immediately felt the pain subside significantly—as if aided by the deities of Sanguan Da Di. Emboldened, he continued to fight and ultimately defeated the army of Zheng Chenggong, securing the Qing army’s first major victory. For his valor and achievements, Lan Li was promoted to Left Governor-General and eventually rose to the rank of Fujian Governor-General. After achieving fame and success, he returned to his hometown to honor his ancestors and oversaw the renovation of the Sanguan Da Di Temple. Emperor Kangxi personally inscribed eight large characters: “Brave and Resolute, Unmatched in Every Direction.” The stone stele stands on Yuedao Street in downtown Zhangzhou City as an imperial commendation and remains preserved to this day. Lan Li is also known as the “Gut-Wounded General.”

Zhangpu County is a primary ancestral home for many Taiwanese people. During the development and migration to Taiwan, these settlers brought the spiritual traditions of their homeland with them, allowing them to take root and flourish, thus making Sanguan Da Di a shared deity between Fujian and Taiwan. Most Taoist beliefs in Taiwan originate from Fujian. Yujiding Sanguan Gong Temple is especially revered by the She ethnic group surnamed Lan. In the early Qing Dynasty, when Taiwan was under Fujian’s jurisdiction, the support of governing officials helped the temple’s spiritual influence take root in Taiwan, making it the progenitor temple for Sanguan Da Di temples across Taiwan. The temple often receives worshippers and donors from regions such as Indonesia, Hong Kong, and Taiwan.