Wanjin Catholic Church Introduction
Wanjin Catholic Church was established in 1861 when Father Thomas de la Salle from the Spanish Dominican Order arrived in Taiwan. In 1863, the first earthen church was constructed. During this period, the church suffered multiple incidents of fire, and the walls were damaged by earthquakes. In 1869, Father Francis Liangfangji, with the support of various parishioners, purchased a piece of forest land and built the Wanjin Our Lady of the Assumption Church in the style of a Spanish fortress. The construction materials used for the church were primarily lime, gravel, kapok, firebricks, brown sugar, and honey, with no steel structure visible; however, the main body is incredibly sturdy. The facade features a twin-tower design, resembling a Spanish fortress, with a gable wall in between the towers that contains a traditional horse saddle image topped with a cross, while below the gable, a crown and the Dominican emblem are displayed. The interior includes mural paintings on the ceiling, carvings on both sides, a rear loft, a pulpit, and a statue of the Virgin Mary, all made of wood and integrating Eastern Chinese and Western Gothic styles. In 1874, Shen Baozhen, a Qing minister, passed by the Wanjin Our Lady of the Assumption Church during an inspection of the southern region and witnessed the harmony and unity of the residents and parishioners. He believed that religion held the power to promote social order and eliminate ethnic divisions. Consequently, he petitioned Emperor Tongzhi for permission to inscribe “Approved by Imperial Order” and to affix a “Holy Stone” for the “Catholic Church” above the church's entrance, after which government troops passing by showed special respect. The exterior of the Wanjin Our Lady of the Assumption Church has undergone numerous renovations, transforming it into its current style; for instance, the original horse saddle gable was modified to a peaked gable, the bell tower was rebuilt at the center of the gable wall, the parapet was changed from a cross-lattice design to a railing style, the wooden framework inside the church was replaced with reinforced concrete, and traditional Chinese decorations were added to the ceiling of the main hall, with columns painted in bright red. Understanding the renovation process of Wanjin Catholic Church is akin to witnessing the history of the spread of Christianity in the East, as the church faced numerous challenges and acts of religious hostility throughout its mission in Taiwan, marked by periods of destruction and rebuilding. In 1984, Pope John Paul II designated Wanjin Our Lady of the Assumption Church as a “Basilica,” and the same year, the Ministry of the Interior also designated it as the third level of cultural heritage in Pingtung County. Wanjin Catholic Church continues to carry the mission of preserving historic legacies.
