Zhongli Renhai Temple Introduction
Recognized as the fourth place in the Ministry of the Interior's Taiwan Religious Top 100, the Zhongli Renhai Temple, established in the sixth year of the Daoguang era (1826), is dedicated to Mazu and has nearly 200 years of history. It was built by a collaboration of 13 villages including Zhongli, Pingzhen, and Yangmei. Initially, it only enshrined Guanyin, but later added Mazu, and it has undergone five renovations since then, making it the oldest temple in Zhongli. Located on New Street, it is commonly known as the "New Street Temple" and has always been a thriving site of worship! Today, it serves as an essential spiritual center for the residents of Zhongli and is also referred to as "Zhongli Ma." During the Japanese colonial period, under the assimilation movement, Renhai Temple was the only temple in the Zhongli area to escape demolition, preserving its history. The neighboring Sacred Pavilion, rebuilt during the Showa era, retains the popular pebble wash and Baroque decorative art features of that time, demonstrating the architectural style that merges cultural influences. The architectural layout and style of Renhai Temple inherit from traditional Chinese southern architecture, comprising a front hall, main hall, and back hall, belonging to a three-hall architectural arrangement. The mountain gate stands independently in front of the temple's main hall, with four pillars and three gates, creating a majestic atmosphere. In 2019, renovations were completed, and a new fragrant Mazu hall was added, featuring a thousand-year-old fragrant Mazu statue, which is 109 cm tall and weighs 53 kg, depicted in an official robe, making it notably unique and comparable to the statues of Dajia Golden Mazu and Yilan Coral Mazu. Today, the decorative beams and painted rafters of Renhai Temple are revitalized, showcasing the grandeur of a century-old temple. Currently, Zhongli Renhai Temple frequently hosts various celebrations and folk activities, such as the birthday of Mazu on March 23 of the lunar calendar, the Zhongyuan Festival "Zhongyuan Pudu," and "Water Lantern Release," as well as the return of Mazu and processions in November, attracting worshippers from all over and marking significant celebrations. (Source: Renhai Temple)
