Luonei Anshan Temple

Luonei Anshan Temple

Luonei Anshan Temple is a cultural tourism attraction.

Anshan Temple, located in Luonei Village, Cannei Township, is about 8 kilometers southeast of the county town. It was first built in the first year of the Yongle era of the Ming Dynasty (1403), enshrining the deity Zhengshun Zunwang, also known as "Luonei Jingzhu" and locally revered as "Jingzhu Gong." It is a county-level cultural heritage site. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, as people from Anxi migrated and settled elsewhere, the belief in Luonei Jingzhu spread to places such as Singapore, Malaysia, and Taiwan, with over ten branch temples established, gaining fame both domestically and abroad.

The main deity worshipped at Anshan Temple is Zhengshun Zunwang (also known as "Luonei Jingzhu" or "Jingzhu Gong"), whose former identity was Xie Bangde (1226–1289), a renowned patriotic poet of the Southern Song Dynasty. His courtesy name was Junzhi, his pseudonym Dieshan, and he also went by Yizhai. A native of Yiyang, Jiangxi, he was a fellow examinee of Wen Tianxiang. Living during the transition from the Song to the Yuan Dynasty, Xie Bangde was a patriotic hero who cared deeply for his country and people, exhibiting noble national integrity. He was also a famous poet in history, having written numerous poems and essays, and made significant contributions to literary criticism, leaving behind a rich body of work. Xie Bangde’s life can be divided into two phases, with Fujian as the dividing line. In the earlier phase, he was well-read, served as an official in the Song court, and led troops to resist the Yuan invaders, embodying Confucian ideals. In the later phase, after being defeated and retreating to Fujian, he lived a semi-reclusive life, associating with Taoists and Confucian scholars, making a living through fortune-telling, and engaging in discussions on Taoist scriptures and Confucian philosophy. During this period, his beliefs were a blend of Confucianism and Taoism, leaning more toward Taoism.

Legend has it that in the early Yuan Dynasty, a farmer surnamed Luo from Yiyang, Jiangxi, went up the mountain to gather firewood with companions when they suddenly spotted an old man sitting on the mountainside eating fruit. As the farmer approached, the old man vanished, leaving behind only faintly visible characters on the root of an old tree that read “Die Shan Yin Chu” (the hidden abode of Dieshan). When news of this spread, people believed it was the spirit of the righteous scholar Xie Bangde, who had manifested due to his longing for his homeland’s landscapes, and they carried the tree root back home. Luo, based on the old man’s appearance, carved a statue from the wood and enshrined it in his home. Neighbors who prayed there during times of trouble often experienced miraculous responses, leading them to respectfully call it “Jingzhu Gong.” In the early Ming Dynasty, descendants of the Luo family brought the wooden statue of Jingzhu Gong with them to Fujian to settle and make a living. They established themselves in Luoyang Township, Changtai Li, Anxi (now Luonei Village, Cannei Township) and enshrined the “Jingzhu Gong” statue in their home. The Luo family was known for being honest, kind-hearted, and harmoniously coexisting with local families surnamed Huang, Xu, Du, and Jiang. They widely shared the origin and stories of “Jingzhu Gong.” Villagers who came to pray often received responses, and through word of mouth, the worship of “Jingzhu Gong” grew increasingly popular. This account is recorded in many local chronicles and historical records. Analyzing the narrative, the origin of “Jingzhu Gong” follows the process of divine manifestation in Taoism, so we can say that for a long time after its emergence, “Jingzhu Gong” belonged to Taoism.

In the first year of the Yongle era of the Ming Dynasty (1403), the Luo family donated the statue of “Jingzhu Gong,” and the Huang family of Luoyang Township (i.e., Luonei Village) took the lead in funding the construction of a temple to enshrine it, naming it Anshan Temple. During the reign of Emperor Xuanzong of Ming (1426–1435), “Jingzhu Gong” was granted the title “Zhengshun Zunwang” by the imperial court. Built during a period of significant religious transformation and development in Quanzhou, Anshan Temple evolved continuously with the currents of history. During this period, religion in Quanzhou was characterized by the integration of Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism. In addition to enshrining “Jingzhu Gong” as the main deity, Anshan Temple also houses statues of the Tathagata Buddha, the Heavenly Emperor, the God of Medicine, the Master of Clear Water, the Five Grains Immortal, Lady Jin, and Marshal Jin. Nearby Zhi Fu Tang, built earlier than Anshan Temple, primarily enshrines the Tathagata Buddha but also includes the Five Grains Immortal and the Master of Clear Water.

During major festivals at Anshan Temple, the worship ceremony typically follows this sequence: first, offerings such as a whole pig head, five types of meat, incense, flowers, fruits, and other sacrificial items are presented; then scriptures are chanted, usually by rural monks who incorporate both Buddhist and Taoist practices; next is the dismantling of the altar, burning of joss paper, and setting off firecrackers and fireworks; finally, performances are held, including traditional plays such as Gaojia opera, glove puppetry, or Nanyin music. This sequence is a typical example of Buddhist worship rituals in the Quanzhou region. The annual Anshan Temple deity welcoming ceremony, though a folk activity, reflects people's deep faith and devotion to Buddhism. Coupled with the fact that “Jingzhu Gong” is honored as one of the “Three Great Folk Deities of Anxi” in southern Fujian, it is reasonable to say that the ceremony contains many elements of Buddhism.