Kunzi Hall Introduction
Kunzitang originally served as the site of a shrine in the Luye Immigrant Village during the Japanese colonial period. After the retrocession of Taiwan, the Japanese returned the deities worshiped in the shrine to Japan, and local residents began to worship the Earth God at the original shrine site. In the 42nd year of the Republic of China (1953), local believers invited Matsu for worship, and in the 47th year, they enshrined the banner of the Yaochi Golden Mother. Kunzitang is a public temple that primarily honors the Yaochi Golden Mother, along with other deities including Shakyamuni Buddha, Guanyin Bodhisattva, the Heavenly Mother, Lady of the Waters, Marshal Zhongtan, and the Xuantian Emperor, who was moved here from Houliao, Changhua. The most distinctive feature of Kunzitang is the old Okinawan trees and neem trees in front of the temple, both over 80 years old. Standing beside these trees is Kunzitang, originally a Japanese shrine, which serves as a gathering place for the villagers of Longtian. Additionally, in the 49th year of the Republic of China, when Kunzitang was first established, the not-yet-ordained Master Cheng Yen practiced here under his master and often discussed Buddhism with the villagers beneath this tree, which is why it has been named the "Tzu Chi Tree" by the Tzu Chi community. Longtian Village boasts enchanting scenery, filled with rural charm. Riding a bicycle along the straight external road, the "Glorious Road Green Tunnel," one can embark on an ecological journey and experience the touching moments of life intertwined with nature.
