Qinglian Temple Introduction
Qinglian Temple is the spiritual center of Ruisui. In response to the needs of the local believers, today's Qinglian Temple not only enshrines the main deity, Shakyamuni Buddha, but also worships Taoist deities such as Guandi, Mazu, Tudigong, and Zhushen Niangniang, to provide local devotees a place for worship and prayers, bridging popular beliefs. Thus, Qinglian Temple has developed into a unique style among the many temples in Taiwan with its combination of Buddhism and Taoism. This century-old temple also has its own unique legends. Inside the temple, there is a pair of bamboo baskets that appear ordinary but actually have a history of over a hundred years. According to legend, during the Guangxu period of the Qing Dynasty, an old man left a pair of bamboo baskets at Dama Yan (present-day Ruibei) but never returned for them. When the local villagers opened the baskets, they discovered a pair of Buddha statues inside. Moreover, there was a note indicating that one statue was to guard Shuiwei (Ruisui), while the other was to guard Mataian She (Guangfu). This is the origin of the two brother temples we see today. In 1972, a major earthquake struck Hualien, which caused Qinglian Temple to collapse, yet the statues and bamboo baskets remained unscathed, leading local residents to believe that they possessed spiritual energy, thus displaying a miracle. To this day, this pair of bamboo baskets remains the treasure of Qinglian Temple! The exterior walls and interior floors of Qinglian Temple are made from the serpentinite stones abundantly produced in Ruisui, giving the overall architecture a local stylistic charm. With a well-developed management system, the temple is well-lit and exudes a solemn yet welcoming atmosphere. Many devotees, both local and from afar, visit, making Qinglian Temple the spiritual and faith center for the people of Ruisui.
