Nanshan Temple Introduction
Yunshan Temple, built in 1822, is the only well-preserved "Dingguang Buddha Temple" in Taiwan. The Dingguang Buddha is a local deity worshipped by Hakka immigrants from Tingzhou, Fujian, who brought this belief with them to Taiwan. In the past, Tingzhou immigrants pooled resources to purchase land and build this temple to honor their hometown's guardian deity, the Dingguang Buddha, and to serve as a meeting place for fellow villagers from Tingzhou. Yunshan Temple is located on Xuefu Road, right across from the Tamsui MRT Station. Although it is not a large temple, its structure is complete, making it a must-visit for those studying traditional temple architecture. The temple includes a front hall, the main hall, the Three Rivers Hall, and dragon protection structures, all featuring exquisite decorative carvings. In front of the temple, there is a crescent-shaped pond, and there are two wells on either side at the back, resembling a pair of eyes; the crescent pond resembles a frog's mouth, creating what is known in feng shui as the "Frog's Cave." Those interested may wish to study this in detail. As for the roofing style, the main hall features a three-ridge roof while the left and right sides have a flat and straight horse-back design, which presents a simple and warm style. The dragon-shaped ridge of the main hall forms a lovely gentle curve, and the roof structure symbolizes the hierarchy of traditional architecture. The ridge decorations and clay sculptures are also rare exquisite works. The stone sculptures of the dragon pillars at Yunshan Temple are notable for their ancient style and beautiful composition. The colorful clay sculptures found on the walls of the front porch of the Three Rivers Hall display clear postures and vivid expressions, representing outstanding works in clay sculpture. Additionally, the dragon pillar stone carvings in the front porch feature beautiful wooden carvings at the tops, which help distribute the roof's weight across the pillars and play an essential role in traditional architecture. In terms of layout and beams, entering from the front of the Three Rivers Hall, the left and right sides feature water corridors and protection structures, forming a complete and enclosed courtyard with the main hall, contributing to a serene and dignified atmosphere in the central courtyard. The artistry of the wooden structure in traditional architecture is clearly presented inside the Three Rivers Hall, where the roof frame structure consists of two main beams and three crossbeams. While understanding the roof frame structure, one can further appreciate these finely crafted artistic sculptures. The temple is currently designated as a national historic monument.
