Xihua Hall is a vegetarian hall affiliated with the Jinchuang sect of the Zhaijiao (Vegetarian Religion), established during the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty. The hall comprises a recessed longevity-shaped worship hall, a main hall, and flanking wings, resembling a traditional three-section compound. While its exterior may appear modest, the serene and spacious courtyard within provides an ideal environment for spiritual practice.
Zhaijiao, also known as the Vegetarian Religion, is a branch of Buddhism that allows practitioners to cultivate their faith at home without shaving their heads or becoming monastics. Gathering places are referred to as "halls" rather than temples. In Tainan, the Longhua(龍華), Jinchuang(今幢), and Xiantian(先天) sects are prominent branches of Zhaijiao (Vegetarian Religion).
Distinct from typical temple architecture, Xihua Hall features a saddleback roof without any official insignia. The central door guardians are the Buddhist protectors Wei Tuo and Qie Lan, while the side doors depict the "Heng Ha Er Jiang" (Two Generals Heng and Ha). The murals on the main hall walls illustrate stories from Buddhist history, all painted by the renowned artist Pan Lishui.
To the southwest of Xihua Hall stands a 150-year-old banyan tree, notable for one of its trunks that lacks aerial roots, earning it the nickname "Rong Zai Ma" (Mother Banyan). This tree intertwines with another banyan known as "Rong Zai Gong" (Father Banyan), which has abundant aerial roots, and a bird fig tree commonly referred to as "Bird Pine." The fusion of these three trunks forms a unique banyan tree, now under protection.
