Bao-en Hall

Avalokitesvara is worshipped in Bao-en Hall. It is a sect of Hsiantien School, Abstinence Religion, which was introduced to Taiwan by Huang Chang-cheng by building a temple in Tainan City. Abstinence Religion integrates Taoism, Confucianism and Buddhism. It suggests that one practices abstinence at home and remains single, living like ordinary people, with no need to shave one's head and become a monk or nun. Therefore, it is also known as the Home Buddhism.

Bao-en Hall was build in 1861. It was the first place where Abstinence Religion was practiced in Taiwan. When the Tainan Hospital (today's Provincial Tainan Hospital) was built here during the Japanese colonial occupation of Taiwan (1895-1945), believers demolished the original hall and built a new hall with the leftover materials and stone and wooden sculptures. As it is a place of religious practice, the hall is not open to the public. Visitors must contact the hall's owner before coming.

The hall is known as the best wood structure in Tainan City. Although it is a place for religious practice, it looks like ordinary civilian dwellings. There are no color paintings, sculptures and other decorations as are expected in most temples. Instead, it is a humble wood structure. The wooden shade underneath the girder is a traditional indoor partition. In addition to separating the left and right sides of the place, it is also a partition of the inside and outside of the hall. Meanwhile, in the main hall, one can see traces of Hsiantien School -- the yin and yang waters in front of the Buddha statue and the mother lantern represent the highest level of the school.