Han Fan
Under the eaves near the two front corners of the temple are two carvings of “han fan”, which translates roughly as “foolish foreigners,” representing the Dutch who invaded and occupied Taiwan in the early 17thcentury. Such han fan can only be seen in very old temples of central and southern Taiwan.
It is said that the craftsmen of the temples had a strong dislike for the Dutch, whom they viewed as mistreating Taiwanese. So they made these Dutchmen figures to carry the weight of the temples roof.
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