Dalongdong (
Chinese: 大龍峒;
pinyin: dàlóngdòng), or Toalongpong (
Chinese: 大龍泵;
Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Tōa-lông-pōng; and variants 大浪泵/大隆同), is an old village in historical
Taipei located near the narrows of the confluence of the
Keelung and
Tamsui Rivers. The district has since been merged with the newer
Twatutia district in the south during the
Qing dynasty to form
Datong District.
The village, officially created in 1853 (3rd year of the
Xianfeng Emperor), covered the area extending from the Chen Teacher's abode (陳悅記祖宅) and beyond the area of sishisikan (四十四坎) and the
Taipei Confucius Temple. During
Japanese rule, the villages of Twatutia, Toalongpong, and
Bangka were combined with the
walled city of Taipeh (in present-day
Zhongzheng District) and incorporated into present-day Taipei city. Although this district now exists only historically, its name still officially remains in the
Dalongdong Baoan Temple and on bus numbers 303 and 669 of the
Taipei bus system.
Name
Although the history of the village likely preceded
Dutch Formosa rule, its existence was first recorded during this time as Pourompon (from the
Basay language). This gave rise to the names Paronpon (
Chinese: 巴浪泵;
Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Pa-lông-pōng), Daronpon (大龍泵; Toā-lông-pōng)[1] and other variants, when the area came under
Qing dynasty rule. The name was once again changed (大隆同; Toā-liông-tông) in 1802 (7th year of
Jiaqing Emperor), by settlers from
Tong'an District in
Xiamen. It was during this period that the Baoan Temple was first constructed. The name finally settled in its present form (大龍峒) during the reign of the
Daoguang Emperor (1820-1850) when further settlement occurred in the area.
Gallery
The main hall of the Dalongdong bao'an temple
Stone pole at the Chen Teacher's abode indicating Jìnshì (進士)
imperial examination status
The Western entrance to the Taipei Confucius temple