Figures painted to look like foreigners can often be found in the rafters or adjacent to horizontal beams in temples around the island.

The figures, which first appeared in the mid-1600s as a symbol of revolt against Dutch colonists, were used to punish the red-haired "silly foreigners" by making them hold up temple beams.

After Yunlin's BeiGang Chao-Tien Temple underwent restoration 50 years ago, a devotee discovered that the face of one of the figures had changed into that of the temple's commissioner.

Many speculate that the carpenter was unhappy with the temple official, and this was his revenge.

Those that worship at Beigang Chao-Tien Temple are familiar with the two foreign figures that decorate either side of the temple's front hall.

The figures are holding up the ceiling with upraised arms, and are a symbol of local residents' unhappiness with Dutch colonists in the mid-1600s.

As they were unable to fight off or compete commercially with the colonists, local residents decided to punish the foreigners with "manual labor."

These figures can be found in temples all over the island, but Chao-Tien Temple alone has a unique anecdote to share.

50 years ago, the temple underwent restoration.

After the process was completed, it was discovered that the face of one of the foreign figures had changed into that of the temple's commissioner.

The whereabouts of the construction worker are unknown, but he certainly left behind an interesting tale.

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