Arctic Temple | templesoftaiwan

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History

In the past, locals addressed the Arctic Temple as “the temple under the banyan tree.” The Arctic Temple was started by a monk from Fujian Province during the duration between the Ming Dynasty and the Qing Dynasty. To pray for luck and good fortune, that monk carried a statue of Emperor Tien wherever he went. One day, when the monk was heading towards a village, he was physically deprived and could walk no more. Because of this, an old man suggested him to ask Emperor Tien whether or not he would like to build a temple there and stay there, which Emperor Tien agreed. After that, Arctic Temple was built in the honor of Emperor Tien.

北極殿主祀玄天上帝，昔日當地人稱「松仔腳上帝廟」，據廟方沿革之記載，相傳於明末清初有位福建剃頭師父，渡海來台求發展，為求庇祐，遂將在家供奉的玄天上帝神像帶在身邊守護，來台後因居無定所，便攜帶神尊走遍府城大街小巷、鄰近鄉鎮沿街剃頭。於康熙46年( 1707)來到歸仁松仔下剃頭，告一段落，準備繼續前往下一個庄頭時，扁擔卻抬不動，有如生根紮住，正感疑惑之際，有一耆老提議用銅錢當筊在神像前請示，經玄天上帝指示欲在此落腳。地方士紳有感於上帝公靈感，初時，因陋就簡結草為屋，而成為北極殿之肇基。