Erjie Wanggong Temple

Located in Zhen’an Village, Wujie Township, Yilan County, Taiwan, the Erjie Wanggong Temple—also known as Erjie Zhen’an Temple—is a traditional religious temple dedicated to the Three Lords of Gugang. It has long played an important role in local religious life and community cohesion. In 1997, due to the need to build a new temple on the original site, local villagers collectively participated in relocating the old temple by dragging it to a new location. This act not only demonstrated strong community spirit but also became part of the region’s overall cultural revitalization. The relocation preserved the historic architecture and increased public awareness of cultural heritage. Both the old structure of Erjie Wanggong Temple and its fire-walking ritual held during the deity’s birthday have been designated as cultural assets of Yilan County.

In earlier times, people traveling between the north and south banks of the Lanyang River often passed through the Erjie area, making the Erjie Wanggong Temple a key religious stop for travelers and worshippers alike. The temple has enjoyed a continuous and thriving incense offering tradition. A popular local saying goes, “Invoke Erjie Wanggong—this is the last resort,” which refers to turning to the deity when situations become desperate. Those known for exceptional abilities are also said to be “like Erjie Wanggong,” reflecting how deeply the deity’s divine image is rooted in local consciousness and cultural language.

While major temple festivals in Wujie Township vary by area, the broader “Greater Erjie” region—which includes Erjie, Zhen’an, Shangsi, Sanxing, and parts of Zhongxing—shares Erjie Wanggong Temple as their spiritual center. They jointly celebrate a festival on the 15th day of the 11th lunar month, which also marks the deity’s birthday. On this day, the temple holds a fire-walking ritual and a unique folk event known as “spirit medium selection.” Guided by the deity, devotees search for a suitable spirit medium (jitong) capable of communicating with the divine. During the ritual, a long, thin copper needle is pierced through the medium’s cheeks to symbolize full submission to the deity’s will. The medium must remain silent throughout, symbolizing piety and obedience. The procession then returns to the temple square for fire-walking, where worshippers wave clothes over the flames to seek protection, avert misfortune, and pray for peace and safety.