Zhushan Lianxing Temple Introduction
Zhu Shan Matsu is said to have come from Fujian, China during the Qing Dynasty. The journey across the Black Water Ditch was both dangerous and tumultuous, as the saying goes, "Ten crossings, three returns, and one loss." How could the Matsu statue safely reach Taiwan amid the high winds and waves of the Black Water Ditch? Early settlers carved the statue into several parts for easier transportation to Taiwan, where they were assembled back together, creating joint-like connections, making the statue resemble a jointed combination rather than a single carved piece. The Matsu belief holds significant commonality in Taiwan and has become a shared object of faith. Unique regional elements arise from Matsu's legendary stories, such as the "Red and White Flower Incident," "Jin Snake Warning," and "Reconciliation Wine," which are part of the historical narrative of local resistance against the Japanese. The temple preserves two ancient monument tablets: the "Prohibition of Extortion on Bamboo Rafts" tablet and the broken "Mashi Tablet" that has a history of repair and is related to the 1900 incense money dispute. Additionally, above the Matsu Temple on Yunlin Road, there is the last cobbler in Zhu Shan who still uses traditional techniques, where high-quality leather shoes are repaired. The cultural space in front of the temple serves as a source of local oral history regarding various everyday matters. (Why do Japanese people prefer white, while Taiwanese people regard red as auspicious? In the Red and White Flower massacre, why did the Japanese tie red flowers on their chests while Taiwanese people tied white flowers?)
