The Sacrificial Ceremonies Martial Temple

　　   The Sacrificial Ceremonies Martial Temple is situated on Yongfu Road, next to the Grand Heavenly Palace. Also referred to as the Guan Di Temple, it was constructed during the Ming Zheng era, and its present form results from renovations carried out in the late Kangxi period of the Qing Dynasty. It serves as the center of worship for Guan Yu, the God of War in this province. The temple has three sections, and is chiefly characterized by its exquisitely detailed carvings and architecture.

　　   After multiple renovations, the existing structure largely reflects its post-1840 reconstruction, with the exception of the innermost Guanyin Hall, which differs somewhat from its original design. The north-facing Sacrificial Ceremonies Martial Temple features an 8-meter-wide, 20-meter-deep, three-bay, three-section layout with two side halls. Due to varying heights of its various halls, the sweeping, slanted gables create a undulating silhouette when viewed from the side, lending the structure considerable aesthetic appeal. In terms of deities enshrined, this three-section, three-hall martial temple has the first section dedicated to Guan Yu; the second section added after the 1720s honors the three generations of ancestors of the Martial Saint; and the third section is devoted to the Buddhist Goddess of Mercy (Guanyin) and the Eighteen Arhats. Additionally, the rear section includes the Western Society shrine for the God of Literature (Wenchang Dijun), a small garden with side rooms, and a theater stage added during the Japanese colonial period in Taiwan.