【Address】No.229, Sec. 2, Yongfu Rd., West Central District, Tainan City
【Brief Introduction】
Sacrificial Rites Martial Temple is commonly known as the Big Guandi Temple when jux-taposed with the the Founding Martial Temple located at No. 166, Shinmei St., which is al-so called Little Guandi Temple for the its size.
【History】
It was said that the Sacrificial Rites Martial Temple was built during the Yongli reign in the Ming Dynasty though the exact date is unknown. The first rebuilding was recorded in 1690 at the same site, managed by Wang Siao-zong of Tai Sia Dao. Zen rooms were added in back of the temple. In 1716, Chen Bin of Tai Sia Dao rebuilt it yet again, and the following year it was converted into a massive temple. In 1723, the three generations of Guandi’s an-cestors were named dukes, with his great grandfather named ''Kuan Zhao Guon'', his grand-father ''Yu Chan Guon'', and his father ''Cheng Zhong Guon.'' Therefore a chamber honoring the three generations of ancestors was added in 1735 in back of the temple. Two years later, the Guandi Temple was renamed ''Sacrificial Rites Martial Temple.''
【Features】
At its peak, the local temples on six streets around the Martial Temple formed ''Lio Ho Territory'', and Lio Ho Tang was set up in the Temple as a communications office for the territory and the command headquarters of the winter defence of the whole city. Subse-quently, its importance grew. During the Japanese occupation, the Martial Temple was not listed in the official rites any more, but it remained an important symbol in the minds of the people. The first step for praying for good luck and intelligence on tests and exams is to pay a visit to the Confucius’s Temple, and the second is to visit the Sacrificial Rites Martial Temple to pray to Lord Wun Chang for good luck. If you worry about missing any important steps, just go to the information counter and make a small donation, write on a praying note detailing the kind of exam you are taking and your personal details, then follow the steps indicated on the note for praying, and your faith will be heard and your wishes granted.