Chieh Yun Temple Introduction
Jieyun Temple is located on Ximen Street in Banqiao District and is dedicated to the Bodhisattva Guanyin. It originally began as Ciyun Cave at Shibi Lake in Zhonghe, which was established during the Yongzheng period, making it over two hundred years old. In the third year of the Xianfeng era, Ciyun Cave was destroyed by arson set by people from Quanzhou. In the sixth year of the Xianfeng era, it was relocated to the northwest corner of Banqiao City, welcomed by Lin Guofang from Banqiao. Due to the construction of the Lin Benyuan residence, it was later moved to its current location to build a temple for worship, with Jieyun Temple replacing the former Ciyun Cave as the center of faith for Bajie Thirteen Villages (now Banqiao, Zhonghe, Yonghe, Tucheng, etc.). The meaning of Jieyun Temple conveys "welcoming" and "receiving incense." The destruction of Ciyun Cave and its non-reconstruction at the old site signifies that Banqiao, under the extensive development of the Lin family, had replaced Zhonghe as the center of commerce, faith, and self-defense in Bajie Fort at that time. The temple houses many precious ancient plaques and couplets, and both sides of the main hall's roof are adorned with splendid wooden carvings of flying celestial beings, wrapped in gold foil, enhancing its historical and religious value along with a uniquely designed elongated elliptical caisson.
