Yinshan Temple Introduction
Built in 1822, the Yinshan Temple is the only well-preserved "Dingguang Buddha Temple" in Taiwan. The Dingguang Buddha is a local belief of the Hakka immigrants from Tingzhou, Fujian, who brought the faith with them to Taiwan. The Tingzhou immigrants raised funds together to purchase land and build this temple to worship the guardian deity of their hometown, Dingguang Buddha, and to serve as a gathering place for fellow villagers from Tingzhou. Yinshan Temple is located on Xuefu Road, opposite the Tamsui MRT Station. Although it is not a large temple, its complete structure makes it a must-visit for those studying traditional temple architecture, including the front hall, main hall, San Chuan Hall, and the dragon guardians. The decorations and carvings inside the temple are exquisitely crafted. In front of the temple is a crescent-shaped water pond, and behind it are two wells, symbolically representing a pair of eyes, while the crescent pond resembles a toad's mouth, forming what is known in Feng Shui as a "toad hole." Friends interested in this might want to explore and study it in detail. The roof style features a three-ridge structure in the main hall and a flat horse-back design for the side halls, presenting a simple and approachable style. The main hall's dragon ridge creates a gently rising beautiful curve, and the roof reflects the symbolism of social status in traditional architecture, with the exquisite works of cut clay and mud sculptures on the ridge being rare masterpieces. The stone carvings on the dragon columns of Yinshan Temple are characterized by their ancient forms and beautiful compositions. The colorful mud sculptures on the walls to the left and right of the front corridor of San Chuan Hall are vivid and expressive, representing fine works within the medium. The wood carvings above the dragon column stone carvings in the front corridor feature exquisite wooden hanging tubes and vertical wood pieces, which serve to distribute the weight of the roof to the columns, holding significant functional importance in traditional architecture. The layout and beams: entering from the front of the San Chuan Hall, on both sides are the water passage corridors and protective halls, forming a complete enclosed courtyard with the main hall, which presents a tranquil and solemn atmosphere in the courtyard. The artistry of wooden structures in traditional architecture is clearly displayed in the interior of the San Chuan Hall, where the structure comprises two main beams and three gourd tubes forming the framework. Understanding the framework also allows for an appreciation of the fine and beautiful carving arts. It is currently designated as a national historic site.
