Shilin Shennong Temple

Today, Shennong Temple's architecture features a two-courtyard, five-bay layout. Bell towers and drum towers are erected above the left and right annexes on both sides of the Sanchuan Hall. The main hall of Shennong Temple has two stories, with Shennong Dadi, the temple's main deity, enshrined on the second floor, and Fude Zhengshen (Earth God) enshrined on the first floor. In addition to the three doors of the Sanchuan Hall, there is also one door in front of each of the left and right annexes. Since Shennong Dadi is a deity of imperial rank, temples dedicated to such deities can have five or more doors on their main facade to demonstrate the exalted status of the god. During ancient China's imperial era, the court stipulated that the architectural style of temples must correspond to the rank of the enshrined deities. Shilin Shennong Temple was originally named "Zhilan Temple," and it was dedicated to Fude Zhengshen, the Earth God. However, when the residents of Shilin renovated the temple for Fude Zhengshen during the Qianlong era, they adopted a 'swallowtail' roof style, which was typically reserved for imperial-ranked deities. While this highlighted the important status of the Earth God in the hearts of the early settlers, it also made the temple excessively ornate and non-compliant with regulations. To avoid the penalty of demolition due to the temple's violation, local residents then added the worship of Shennong Dadi, a deity of imperial rank, as the principal god. This transformation reflects the compromise and integration between Han Chinese temple traditions, family ritual order, and local popular beliefs. Shilin Shennong Temple has undergone multiple renovations but still preserves many old artifacts, such as the stone-carved dragon pillars in front of the Sanchuan Hall, as well as the temple's stone beams and carved stone windows. Also preserved are longevity tablets from the Qianlong era and incense burners from the Xianfeng era of the Qing dynasty, along with Qing dynasty carvings of Shennong Dadi and Fude Zhengshen statues. The main hall of Shennong Temple also features stone pillars from the Japanese colonial period embedded in the columns on both sides, and the main hall's wall design retains characteristics from the Japanese colonial era. The Guanyinshan stone used possesses distinct historical features that are difficult to replicate today. The temple also preserves several steles recording the history of the temple's renovations and donor lists, as well as a 'Jingziting' (respect-for-paper pavilion) used for burning written paper, witnessing the development of the Shilin area and its prosperous literary tradition in early times. Numerous statues of Shennong Dadi are enshrined within Shennong Temple. Statues of Shennong Dadi generally come in two forms: one depicts him as a primal figure, naked and barefoot, with only leaves wrapped around his shoulders and waist, holding golden rice stalks, symbolizing the invention of agriculture and the transition from primitive to civilized life; the other portrays him in imperial attire and a crown, symbolizing the exalted status of Huaxia civilization and the ancestor of the Chinese people. The Shennong Dadi enshrined in Shilin Shennong Temple is depicted in the primal form, with two types of facial complexions: red and black. The red face symbolizes Shennong's rosy complexion after consuming grains following the invention of farming, while the black face represents Shennong's darkened complexion due to accidental ingestion of poisonous herbs, commemorating his sacrifice in seeking medicinal plants for humanity. Furthermore, Shilin Shennong Temple houses many Koji pottery (Jiaozhi ceramic) artworks fired with high-temperature colored glazes. The creator is Chen Zhuanyou (1911- ), a disciple of the Hong Kunfu school and one of the "Five Tiger Generals," prominent figures in the decorative arts of Taiwanese temple architecture in the mid-20th century. Koji pottery decorations in Taiwanese temples often feature themes from traditional opera. A single thematic story displayed on a wall panel is called a "chūtóu." On the beams inside the Sanchuan Hall of Shennong Temple, there are 6 Koji pottery chūtóu. Adding the "shuǐchēdǔ" (water-wheel block) near the eaves on the front hall wall and the "duìkàndǔ" (facing blocks) on the opposing walls on both sides, there are a total of 12 Koji pottery chūtóu. Each block contains at least 7 Koji pottery figures, making the total number of figures substantial. Their body postures are delicate and poised, preserving a rich collection of traditional decorative art.