Chihyun Temple Introduction
Jiexin Temple is located on Ximen Street in Banqiao District and is dedicated to the Bodhisattva Guanyin. Its predecessor, Ciyun Rock, was established during the Yongzheng period at Shibi Lake in Zhonghe and has a history of over two hundred years if calculated from that time. In the third year of the Xianfeng period, Ciyun Rock was destroyed by a fire set by people from Quanzhou. In the sixth year of Xianfeng, it was relocated to the northwest corner of Banqiao City by Lin Guofang. Later, due to the construction of the Lin Benyuan residence, it moved to its current site for worship. Since then, Jiexin Temple has replaced the former Ciyun Rock as the center of faith for the residents of the Thirteen Villages in the area (now Banqiao, Zhonghe, Yonghe, Tucheng, etc.). The name "Jiexin" means "to welcome" and "to accept incense," indicating that Ciyun Rock, although destroyed and not rebuilt at its original site, has been relocated to Banqiao. This shows that under the development of the Lin family, Banqiao had replaced Zhonghe as the center for commerce, faith, and self-defense at that time. The temple houses many precious ancient plaques and couplets, and the roof on both sides of the main hall is adorned with numerous wooden carvings of flying celestial beings covered in gold leaf, making it quite dazzling. Additionally, the uniquely designed elongated oval caisson adds significant historical and religious value.
