Lotus Hill Guanyin Temple Introduction
Locally known as Guanyin Pavilion, it is now designated as a Class 3 historic site. Since its establishment, the temple has undergone multiple renovations but still retains its appearance and scale from over 200 years ago, making it a valuable cultural asset. In 2013, it was selected as one of the "Hundred Scenic Views of Taiwan's Religions" by the Ministry of the Interior, highlighting its historical significance. Lianzuo Mountain stands alone in the Dahan River, resembling a lotus flower emerging from the water, hence its name. In the 3rd year of the Jiaqing era of the Qing Dynasty (1797), it was funded and established by Zhong Shangyi and others, who raised donations to build the Buddhist temple on the rocky mountain, consecrating Guanyin and the Eighteen Arhats, named Guanyin Temple. By 1904 (Meiji 37), local gentry in Daxi, recognizing the risk of the temple's collapse, raised funds for major renovations and constructed a worship pavilion. In 1925 (Taisho 14), further funds were raised for comprehensive repairs, and in 1934 (Showa 9), the original worship pavilion was rebuilt into a hipped roof pavilion, which remains to this day. The architecture of Lianzuo Mountain Guanyin Temple is limited by the terrain, resulting in a single-hall structure with five entrances. The roof features a San Chuan ridge style, and in front of the main hall is the worship pavilion, which is the temple's most significant architectural feature, featuring a heavy eaved hipped roof with an octagonal caisson inside. The temple’s intricate cut and paste art, clay sculptures, wood carvings, stone carvings, and paintings all exhibit an ancient yet elegant quality. On the right side of the temple, about 10 meters into the shaded area, there is the Jingsheng Pavilion (Xizi Pavilion), an important ancient structure known as "Kuitang Tower," built in 1936 (Showa 11). It houses the deity Wenchang Wang, and is a three-tiered pavilion made of red bricks. The upper and middle layers display couplets, and the dragon and tiger engravings on the pavilion body are vividly detailed, with exquisite cut and paste and sculptures. On the right side of the temple is also Kuitang Tower, dedicated to the deity who ensures the flourishing of literary skills, enshrined within the northern star Kuitang, a god of literary luck. This tower also functions as a paper offerings pavilion, combining the architectural styles of a temple with flying eaves and cylindrical tiles, adorned with auspicious beast tiles and reliefs, making it quite splendid. Beside the Kuitang Tower, there is a small pavilion dedicated to the God of Wealth and the tree spirit. This simple-looking shrine is said to have existed even before the Guanyin Temple was built, and it also holds historical significance. Source: Bureau of Cultural Affairs, this government.
