06 Dalongdong Baoan Temple (Including the Former Site of the Forty-Four Shops)
The origins of Baoan Temple date back to 1742 during the Qianlong era of the Qing dynasty. The temple name “Baoan” symbolises protection of the immigrants from Tong’an, Quanzhou, who built the temple. After several renovations, the current three-hall, three-section layout was completed in 1830, forming a large-scale traditional temple complex.
Many visitors come to worship Baosheng Dadi and pray for good health. However, Baoan Temple is also renowned for its exquisite architecture, carvings, and decorative art. When you step through the temple gates, if you look closely you’ll notice the East and West Guard Rooms and the Bell and Drum Towers, as well as the finely detailed roof adorned with colourful ceramic mosaics. Inside the main hall, look up and you will see two sights that showcase the temple’s distinctive and ornate craftsmanship: the first a unique design with short columns replacing the traditional caisson ceiling, and the second a figure known as the “naïve barbarian lifting a beam” supporting the crossbeam.
For the 1917 renovations, a competitive system called duìchǎngzuò (對場作) was used: the temple was divided along a central axis and craftsmen were divided into two teams to work separately on the “dragon side” and the “tiger side” (the right- and left-hand sides, respectively, when facing the main hall). Master woodcarver Chen Ying-bin led work on the dragon side, while Kuo Ta and Wu Hai-tong worked on the tiger side. Ceramic artisans Hung Kun-fu and Chen Da-ting also took part, competing with their creations. The rival teams left behind stunning works and valuable cultural heritage, demonstrating the excellence of traditional Taiwanese craftsmanship.
Across the street from the temple lies the Baoan Temple Garden known as Linsheng Yuan. This space is filled with thoughtful design elements, such as a swastika-shaped bridge symbolising good fortune, clay sculptures, and large murals depicting the legends of Baosheng Dadi. Nine rare and notable murals painted in 1973 by artist and national treasure Pan Li-shui are also available to see.
To the right of the temple gate stands a stone stele marking the Former Site of the Forty-Four Shops. It commemorates a historical row of 44 similarly sized wooden shops with tiled roofs, which made up one of Taipei’s earliest planned commercial blocks. Sadly, most of the shops were destroyed by a powerful typhoon in 1963, and only the stele remains as a reminder of the area’s past vibrancy.
Apart from Baoan Temple, the Dalongdong area is home to other cultural landmarks such as the Taipei Confucius Temple and Shuren Academy. Take a cultural journey and experience the area’s deep-rooted heritage.
