The worship of Wangye in Taiwan originates from China. As it was humid and pestilence was rampant along the costal of Fuchien in earlier time, people believed that was an omen from the god of pestilence, so they made the king boat when there was pestilence to carry the statue of Wangye away and to dispel pestilence. Such a way to drive away pestilence and evil gradually became a local custom called the sending off of the king boat.
The king boat sent off from Fuchien often flowed to the Penghu or the southwest coast of Taiwan due to wind directions and flow currents. To prevent the recurrence of pestilence, locals invited Wangye onshore and built a temple to worship him. Furthermore, as ancestors from China also brought with them the statue of Wangye from their hometowns and worshipped him in temples in Taiwan, making the southwest coast of Taiwan the center of Wangye worship.
Currently, the Daitian Temple in Nankunshen and Donglong Temple in Sanliao Bay, Beimen, are the two major temples worshipping Wangye in the Southwest Coast National Scenic Area. Known as the First Temple in the World, the Daitian Temple in Nankunshen was built in 1662 and is the largest and oldest temple worshipping Wangye in Taiwan. It is a certified Class 2 national historical monument. The Wangye Cultural Gallery of Donglong Temple displays many monuments, data and exhibits relating to Wangye.
swcoast@swcoast-nsa.gov.tw
