Zhaoying Temple Introduction
Zhaoying Temple is currently the only National Third-Class Historic Site in Yilan, built during the Jiaqing period of the Qing Dynasty. At that time, Zhaoying Temple was located at the center of Gamalan Hall, and it has a history of over 200 years. Since its establishment, it has become a center of faith and gatherings for the people of Yilan, and it is also the only Mazu temple in Taiwan facing the mountains. The main deity of Zhaoying Temple is Mazu, and when it was originally built, it faced the sea, symbolizing the protection of fishermen. However, it is said that a geomancer divined that if Zhaoying Temple faced west, it would change the local cultural fortune, leading to its reconstruction in a three-hall style during the Daoguang period of the Qing Dynasty and a change in orientation. Subsequently, several scholars indeed passed the imperial examination. Zhaoying Temple has a long history and has undergone multiple renovations, yet the layout of the temple, along with the wood carvings and stone carvings, still retains the style of the Daoguang period. The intricate craftsmanship of the dragon columns, stone lions, and beam columns is quite distinctive, and plaques from the Daoguang period can also be seen inside the temple, making it a site of significant local esteem. In addition to enshrining Mazu, the temple also honors three major contributors to the development of Yilan during the Qing Dynasty: Yang Tingli, Zhai Gan, and Chen Zheng, commonly known as the "Three Great Elders." For those who appreciate history and temple culture, a visit to Zhaoying Temple is worth it for a deeper exploration of Yilan and for a moment of spiritual reflection.
