Taiwan Religious Culture Map

Also known as Bajijing Daoshu Guandi Hall, the Guandi Temple in Bajijing is dedicated to Wenheng Shengdi (Sagely Emperor Weighing Literary Talent, more commonly known as Guan Yu). It was built originally during Emperor Kangxi's reign in the Qing era so that officials would not have to travel long distances to worship at the Guandi Hall in Houjia (the name of an area located in today's East District, Tainan). The temple was also called Daoshu Guandi Hall for its location on the left of the Taiwan Xundaoshu (Office of Taiwan Circuit, an administrative unit in Taiwan early during the Qing era) in Tainan's Xidingfang (west part of the city). Due to urban development plans for Tainan in the 4th year of the Shōwa era (Japanese colonial period; 1929 CE), parts of the Guandi Temple were moved and rebuilt at the current location. However, the temple was located on low-lying land prone to flooding, which damaged the structure. A renovation project was conducted in 1970 CE to elevate the land, fortify the temple structure with reinforced concrete, and change the tiles of the roof to glazed tiles. Completed in 1971 CE, the project shaped the temple we see today. The temple also has considerable artistic value for preserving the works of renowned painters and calligraphers from Tainan, including Pan Chun-yuan (1891-1972 CE), Pan Li-shui (1914-1995 CE), and Chu Chiu-ying (1898-1996 CE).