位在臺南北門偏鄉、被譽為王爺總廟的南鯤鯓代天府，在清代中 葉已是全臺知名的廟宇。本文主要透過民間傳說的分析與解讀，指出 該廟興盛的原因有四，一是南鯤鯓與倒風內海的地理環境，加上五王 隨王船漂流而來，都使其香火具有開放性，可以自由地向外傳播。二 是五王以「代天巡狩」進行「標準化」的改造，不僅規避官方對「淫 祀」的打壓，也藉此擴大信眾基礎，並獲得官員的支持。三是五王定 期出巡府城、鹽水與麻豆，並擴及澎湖離島，過程中所展現的神蹟， 及與各地廟宇、神明、居民的結盟，都加速其信仰的擴張。四是五王 原具有「邪神」的性格，特殊的靈驗性與位階不高、不受約制的神格， 都符合臺灣社會的邊緣性，而能吸引廣大庶民，使該廟更加興盛發展。

Located in Beimen, Tainan, and often referred to as the “Wang Ye Main Temple”, Nankunjuan Temple has been a famous temple in Taiwan since the MidQing Dynasty. Drawing primarily on the analysis and interpretation of folk legends, this essay points out the four reasons why this temple flourishes: 1) The geographical position of Nankunjuan and Daofeng Inland Sea, coupled with the arrival of the five Wang Ye who drifted there aboard their boat, gives its incense a “spread-out” quality, allowing it to drift outwards freely; 2) By patrolling on behalf of the Jade Emperor, the five Wang Ye carry out a “normalizing” transformation, not only avoiding the suppression of this “licentious cult” by the authorities, but also increasing the number of believers, as well as acquiring the support of officials; 3)Throughout the five Wang Ye’s regular patrols to Fucheng, Yanshui, Madou, and even Penghu, the display of miraculous events and the alliances created among various temples, deities, and residents quickens the expansion of faith; 4)The five Wang Ye possess the qualities of “devil deities”; their characteristic efficaciousness, lower godly rank, and their freedom from restraint are all in line with Taiwan's own social marginality. These qualities help attract large numbers of common folk, making the temple more prosperous.