Lianzuo Mountain Guanyin Temple Introduction
Locally known as Guanyin Pavilion, this site is currently a third-level historical monument. Since its establishment, it has undergone numerous renovations but has maintained its appearance and scale from over 200 years ago, making it a valuable cultural asset. In 2013, it was selected as one of the "Top 100 Religious Sites in Taiwan" by the Ministry of the Interior, possessing significant historical meaning. Lianzuo Mountain stands alone in the Dahan River, resembling a lotus flower emerging from the water, hence its name. In the third year of the Jiaqing era of the Qing dynasty (1797), it was established by Zhong Shangyi and others who pooled resources to build the temple on the mountain rock, dedicating it to Guanyin and the eighteen arhats, naming it Guanyin Temple. In 1904 (the 37th year of Meiji), local gentry in Daxi noticed the temple was in danger of collapse, leading to a significant fundraising campaign for repairs, during which a worship pavilion was added. In 1925 (the 14th year of Taisho), it was completely renovated again, and in 1934 (the 9th year of Showa), the original worship pavilion was remodeled into a hipped roof pavilion, which remains to this day. The architecture of Lianzuo Mountain Guanyin Temple is limited by geographical factors, resulting in a five-gate single hall temple structure, featuring a three-ridge roof style. In front of the main hall is a worship pavilion, which is the most distinctive feature of Guanyin Temple, with a double-layer hipped roof and an octagonal coffered ceiling inside. The temple's cut-out designs, clay sculptures, wood carvings, stone carvings, and paintings are all elegant and traditional. On the right side of the temple, about 10 meters under a shaded area, there is the Jingsheng Pavilion (also known as the Xiezi Pavilion), an important ancient building named "Kueixing Tower," built in 1936 (the 11th year of Showa). It enshrines the God of Literature, Wenkus Xingjun, and is a three-tier pavilion made of red bricks, with couplets inscribed on the upper and middle layers. The dragon and tiger carvings on the pavilion are vividly detailed, and the cut-out designs and sculptures are exquisite. Additionally, there is Kueixing Tower, which prays for prosperous literary endeavors, dedicated to Kueixing, the god who protects literary fortunes from the Big Dipper’s seven stars. This tower also serves the function of a character preservation pavilion, featuring a structure for writing papers and the temple's eaves and tiles, adorned with auspicious animal tiles and reliefs, making it quite splendid. Beside the Kueixing Tower, there is a small pavilion enshrining the God of Wealth and the Tree God. This small temple appears simple and unadorned, but it is said to have existed before Guanyin Temple was built, possessing a rich historical background. Source: Cultural Bureau of the City Government.
