Sijie Fude Temple (Sijie Golden Bodied Tudigong)

Located in Yilan County, Sijie Fude Temple is an important and long-standing religious site in the local community, with a history dating back to the first year of Emperor Guangxu's reign during the Qing Dynasty (1875). Originally, the temple faced west with its back to the east, and a small river once flowed in front of it toward the Lanyang River. Over time, the river silted up and turned into farmland, giving the area its current pastoral appearance. The land behind the temple, known for its taro production, came to be called "Yuziyuan Ditch" and "Xidigou," reflecting the close connection between local agriculture and religious beliefs.

In 1990, based on feng shui considerations, local believers decided that the temple should face east to attract more blessings. They chose to rebuild and reorient the temple accordingly. Two years later, in 1992, the new front hall was completed, and then-Yilan County Magistrate You Si-kun personally placed an official hat on the Earth God statue in the main hall, symbolizing divine power and honor.

One of the temple’s most distinctive annual events is the “Crossing the Golden Fire” ritual held on the second day of the second lunar month. Led by a black command flag, the palanquin carrying the deity circles the temple once, then circles the temple courtyard three times. This entire process is repeated three times in total, symbolizing the sayings: “Good things come in pairs,” “Two leads to three,” and “Three completes a ritual,” embodying the integration of local culture and faith.

In 1967, with the efforts of local gentry such as Chen A-Lu and Zheng Zan-Wang, the “Earth God Association” was established, with most members being local farmers. Each year, the association conducts a divination ceremony using moon blocks to determine the year's head and censer master. Rituals are held on the second day of the second lunar month and on April 26th, preserving the community’s religious traditions and spirit of unity.