Zongsheng Temple Introduction
During the Qing Dynasty, in the Qianlong and Jiaqing eras, the Zeng clan originally from Guangdong, China, migrated to Taiwan. After several generations of hard work, they successfully developed their family business. To express gratitude to their ancestors and honor their lineage, the descendants of the Zeng clan built the Zongsheng Temple in 1929, dedicated to Zeng Shen, a direct disciple of Confucius who was posthumously titled "Zongsheng Gong" by successive emperors and renowned for his filial piety. The Zongsheng Temple is an architectural marvel that combines the traditional Hakka quadrangle layout with ornate Baroque style, making it one of the largest and most extravagantly decorated clan temples in Taiwan. Along with the Tian Shui Tang in Beipu of northern Taiwan, it is regarded as one of the most important clan temples in both northern and southern Taiwan. Covering an area of 1,100 ping, the Zongsheng Temple adopts a two-hall and two-cross quadrangle architectural design, featuring decorations made from pebbles, clay sculptures, wood carvings, paintings, calligraphy, and cut-sticking Cochin pottery applied to the entrance hall, roof, beams, and gables. For instance, the gate tower located in the square is impressive due to its animal sculptures; there are also swallow-tailed roofs, water-shaped horse ridges, fire-shaped horse ridges, and Cochin pottery birds, among others. Notably, the surface of the columns in the main hall displays the rare calligraphic art of "bamboo leaf characters," made from bamboo leaves. Entering the main hall, one finds the ancestral shrine in the center, with the sacrificial altar designed according to ancient customs, topped by a plaque inscribed with "Tian Jing Di Yi," which elucidates the life philosophy of Zeng Zi. The lateral halls preserve the sacrificial spaces of clan ancestor Zeng Yuzhen and six significant rooms known as "Jiuling," "Xishan," "Nanshan," "Duantang," "Huangkeng," and "Shenpo." This ancient building fully showcases the academic traditions, values, and social organization of the Hakka people, representing a priceless cultural heritage.
