Dahua Palace

The Three Mountain Kings are the deities of the three mountains of Chaozhou (Mingkuang Dushan, Mingshan, and Zhongshan). Their origins trace back to the Sui Dynasty, they manifested their divine powers during the Tang Dynasty, and were conferred titles during the Song Dynasty. In various counties of Chaozhou, temples dedicated to them can be found everywhere, and they are worshipped universally. Prayers offered during droughts, floods, or epidemics are always answered. In the 30th year of Emperor Qianlong's reign (1765), the venerable Mr. Xu De-lai brought an incense burner from his hometown of Zhenping and crossed over to Taiwan. Since then, the divine reputation and spiritual efficacy of the Kings have been prominently displayed in Douhuanping and its neighboring villages. In the early days of its establishment, a thatched hut was built, and the temple had a simple appearance. Inside, the deities of the Three Mountain Kings, Guanyin Niang (Goddess of Mercy), and Shengmu Niang (Holy Mother) were enshrined. It was initially named 'Three Mountain Kings Temple Dahua Palace.' In 1974 (63rd year of Minguo), the devotees' assembly resolved to officially name it 'Dahua Palace.' For over a hundred years, their divine protection has brought prosperity to the villagers, leading to the emergence of numerous talented individuals in the village, truly a place where the spiritual energy of the land nurtures outstanding people. The current temple at this site was completed in 1995 (84th year of Minguo), at a cost exceeding 80 million NTD. The first floor primarily enshrines the Three Mountain Kings, with secondary veneration for Zhusheng Niangniang (Goddess of Childbirth), Confucius, Wenchang Dijun (God of Culture and Literature), and Cangjie (the legendary inventor of Chinese characters). The second floor enshrines Guanyin Buddha (Goddess of Mercy), Mazu (Heavenly Holy Mother), and Jiutian Xuannü (Mysterious Lady of the Nine Heavens). On December 2, 2000 (89th year of Minguo), a grand five-day ritual (Wuchao Fu Jiao) was held to celebrate the temple's completion, a magnificent event unprecedented in scale.