Fangliao Baozhong Temple of the Righteous People

Fangliao Baozhong Temple of the Righteous People

Fangliao Baozhong Temple of the Righteous People is a cultural tourism attraction.

Built in the winter of the 53rd year of the Qianlong Emperor’s reign during the Qing Dynasty (1788 AD), Fangliao Baozhong Temple of the Righteous People can be considered the principal shrine of all Righteous People temples across Taiwan.

The temple enshrines the Three Mountain Kings, Shennong (the Divine Farmer) and the Yellow Emperor, as well as Guanyin, the Goddess of Mercy. The annual Righteous People Festival on the 20th day of the 7th lunar month sees local fifteen major villages take turns serving as ritual hosts. For over a century, it has become a major festival and center of faith for the Hakka people of Hsinchu.

In the 53rd year of Qianlong’s reign, during the Lin Shuangwen rebellion, the remains of the righteous villagers (including indigenous people, Hakka, and people from Quanzhou) who defended their homeland were all buried behind the temple. Later, during the first year of the Tongzhi Emperor’s reign, the Dai Chaochun Incident also occurred, and the loyal remains of those who died were buried to the right rear of the temple.

The Qianlong Emperor, in recognition of the righteous people’s merit in quelling the rebellion, first conferred upon them the title of Brave Volunteers, then later the title of Loyal and Devoted. He thrice bestowed an imperial plaque inscribed with the words “Bao Zhong” (Loyal and Righteous), leading to the temple being renamed Baozhong Pavilion.