Jingfu Temple, Taoyuan

Jingfu Temple, commonly known as the “Taoyuan Grand Temple,” is located in Taoyuan District, Taoyuan City, Taiwan. It is a highly venerated temple dedicated to Kai Zhang Sheng Wang (the Sage King Who Opened Zhangzhou) and serves as the religious center for the Fifteen Villages of Taoyuan. The temple is not only a vital site for local folk belief but has also been designated a municipal historic site due to its historical and cultural value. It is considered one of the symbolic landmarks represented in the emblem of Taoyuan District.

The temple was founded in 1745 (Qianlong 10, Qing Dynasty), when the region known then as Taozaiyuan (modern-day Taoyuan) suffered from frequent plagues. Local pioneer Xue Qilong donated 20 hectares of land to build a temple for peace and blessings, naming it Jingfu Temple. The origins of the main deity, Kai Zhang Sheng Wang, are debated—some say the statue was brought from Renhe Temple in Daxi, while the temple itself maintains that the statue was first enshrined by the Chen family ancestors who brought it from Zhangpu, Fujian.

In 1809 (Jiaqing 14), after Taoyuan City Walls were constructed, locals from the Fifteen Villages of Zhangzhou lineage collectively expanded the temple. The reconstruction was completed in 1811 (Jiaqing 16), establishing the scale seen today. Over time, with several renovations, Jingfu Temple became the core of religious life in Taoyuan. In 1857 (Xianfeng 7), during a severe drought, Tamshui magistrate En Yu came to the temple to pray for rain, which miraculously fell soon after, further enhancing the temple’s reputation.

In 1985, the temple was designated as a Grade III historic site by Taiwan’s Ministry of the Interior. In recent years, Jingfu Temple has been preserved with care—most notably, the original Taoyuan MRT Green Line route was rerouted from underneath the temple to its west side to protect the temple's integrity.

Architecturally, the temple is a traditional Southern Min-style two-hall layout. Both the front and main halls have pseudo four-slope roofs, and the façade spans nine bays, creating a majestic appearance. The main deity is Kai Zhang Sheng Wang, accompanied by Marshal Xuantan, whose idol was brought from Wufu Temple in Nankan. Guanyin and Mazu are also worshiped on either side. The east and west chambers flanking the courtyard enshrine Golden Mother (Jinmu Niangniang) and Zhu Sheng Niangniang (Goddess of Birth) respectively. The Taisui Hall houses Doumu Yuanjun and the Sixty Taisui Stars. Other halls include the Yue Lao Hall (God of Marriage) and the Confucius Hall, where visitors pray for love and academic success.