Sanxia Qingshui Zushi Temple Introduction
Located near Sanxia Old Street, the Qingshui Temple is renowned for its thriving incense offerings, dedicated to Qingshui Master. It was established in the 34th year of the Qianlong Emperor's reign (AD 1769). In the 36th year of the Republic of China, the temple suffered from years of neglect and disrepair, leading to the appointment of Professor Li Meishu as the artistic designer and engineering supervisor for the reconstruction project. The temple features numerous exquisite stone and wood carvings that integrate the styles of various craftsmen and contemporary artists, showcasing the superb craftsmanship and aesthetics of the time, earning it the titles of "Hall of Folk Art" and "Hall of Eastern Art." Visiting this artistic hall, which gathers the works of renowned masters, you'll encounter a temple built in the ancient "five gates and three halls" style. From the stone steps of the front hall, every aspect—including the ground, walls, and columns—is made of stone, while the five gates of the main hall are made of copper. Inside the temple, the dragon columns, flower and bird columns, and wooden carvings exhibit intricate and refined craftsmanship. The temple's foundation is stone, topped with wood, and looking up, you'll find exquisitely carved wooden elements everywhere. The murals and wood carvings depict stories drawn from "Romance of the Three Kingdoms," "Journey to the West," "Investiture of the Gods," and "Twenty-Four Filial Exemplars," all crafted by contemporary masters. The elaborate wooden carvings above the main hall (central hall) must be seen, especially the openwork stone pillars and intricate coffered ceiling. Upon entering the Sanxia Qingshui Temple, you will be immediately captivated by its splendid grandeur and the brilliance of religious art. Among the many beautiful stone carvings in the main hall, the most eye-catching are the twenty stone carved pillars, especially the three pairs of openwork stone pillars at the entrance of the main hall: the "Double Dragon Sword Gold Light Gathering Immortal Array" three-tiered octagonal double dragon columns, "Hundred Birds Paying Homage to Plum Blossom Pillar," and "Double Dragons Paying Homage to the Thirty-Six Generals with Eighteen Riders" three-tiered octagonal double dragon columns, which exemplify great skill and craftsmanship, and are hailed as treasures of the temple. After exploring the back of the main hall, remember to look up at the rare spiral-lattice coffered ceiling, which features a spiral design that rises in layers through a highly challenging carving technique, making it of considerable artistic value. Due to its difficulty of maintenance, this is also the reason why incense is not burned in the main hall of the temple. After visiting the Qingshui Temple, take a stroll along the nearby streets. In addition to visiting Sanxia Old Street, you can head to the Ganle Cultural and Creative Park to enjoy tofu, drink soy milk, and taste local agricultural products. You can also experience DIY fabric dyeing at a traditional indigo dyeing workshop.
