Introduction
The Wanfu Temple Wall, also known as the "Zhaobi" or screen wall, is situated at the entrance of Wanfu Temple in Tainan's West Central District. Originally, the site served as the residence of Ruan Jun, a general under Koxinga during the Ming Dynasty. After Ruan Jun's passing, his widow, along with descendants of the Ming Dynasty, followed Zheng Jing to Taiwan. She dedicated her life to Buddhist practices at this location, leading later generations to refer to the site as "Madam Ruan's Temple." During the Jiaqing period of the Qing Dynasty, the structure underwent renovations and was renamed Wanfu Temple.
The Zhaobi in front of the temple is a traditional architectural feature designed as an entrance screen wall, believed to ward off evil spirits. Constructed with red bricks and coated with white plaster, the wall features a double-ridge swallowtail roof, with a higher central section flanked by lower sides. The roof is adorned with blue-patterned decorations, distinguishing it from typical temple designs. Legend has it that the wall was erected by Qing Dynasty General Shi Lang to counteract the feng shui set by Madam Ruan, who had altered her residence's layout to oppose Shi Lang's fortunes.
In 1972, Wanfu Temple was reconstructed into a two-story building, during which many ancient artifacts and statues were lost. However, the Zhaobi retained its original style and has been designated as a Level-3 Historic Monument due to its cultural significance. In front of the temple stands a 200-year-old banyan tree, whose trunk is covered with protrusions resembling monkeys climbing. Locals believe these formations resulted from the tree absorbing spiritual energy, leading to its nickname "Monkey Spirit Tree King."
