Cultural Asset Lost: Historic "Xi Fo Guo" in Tainan’s Shennong Street Robbed, Losses Estimated at Tens of Millions

Reported by Reporter You / Comprehensive Report

Using the ancient Quanzhou, Fujian sculpting techniques for Buddhist statue-making, which is currently in its fourth generation of inheritance, “West Buddha Kingdom” in Shennong Street, Tainan City — recognized by the Ministry of Culture as an intangible national cultural asset — was burglarized in the early hours of today (19th). Thieves broke in and stole antique collections from the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties along with valuables, resulting in losses amounting to tens of millions.


▲Exterior view of West Buddha Kingdom. (Photo / Provided by Tainan City Tourism Bureau)


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When speaking of the Buddhist statue art craft in Tainan, the Quanzhou school “West Buddha Kingdom” is one of the key representatives. Originating from Quanzhou, Fujian, this family-run craft has been passed down to the fifth generation. Due to the family’s exclusive inheritance without widely recruiting apprentices, the fourth-generation inheritor is Cai Tianmin. Cai Tianmin and his son Cai Youcheng run the business in Tainan. Unlike past artisans, modern statue-makers no longer use the traditional methods that make the sculptures more durable, hence “West Buddha Kingdom” has been designated by the Ministry of Culture as an intangible national cultural asset.

As the family owns many Buddha statues due to their work in the craft, the head of West Buddha Kingdom, Cai Tianmin, was recently invited to lead three generations of his family to Wanluan, Pingtung, to restore statues. Having worked away from home for several days, they had just returned for rest when thieves took the opportunity to strike. This morning (19th), the daughter-in-law discovered the break-in while cleaning and found that antiques from the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties as well as valuables had been stolen, with losses reaching tens of millions. Apart from immediately reporting to the police, they have also informed Cai Tianmin, who is working in Pingtung, to come home to assess the losses.

According to surveillance footage provided by neighbor Mr. Wang, at 3:11 a.m., a figure was seen lingering in the alley behind the Cai residence — an area usually deserted. The relevant video footage has been handed over to the police, who will also review nearby surveillance camera recordings to fully investigate this major burglary case.


▲West Buddha Kingdom, recognized by the Ministry of Culture as an intangible national cultural asset, was broken into by thieves in the early hours of today. (Photo / Provided by Tainan City Tourism Bureau)