Yungan Temple Introduction
Yong'an Temple faces southeast, spanning an area of over 300 pings, featuring a three-entry and five-gates layout. The front hall is adorned with a double-dragon motif facing the immortals, with divine generals riding a green dragon. The two vertical ridge decorations showcase colorful phoenixes spreading their wings, depicting vibrant figures. The two side vertical ridges feature a soaring green dragon, radiating vitality, while the ridge decorations are embellished with dragon and phoenix motifs. The single dragon columns stand at the red terrace, interspersed with human figures and birds. The octagonal column bases and the wall decorations create a vivid depiction of countless immortals. The main deity enshrined in the central hall is the Heavenly Holy Mother, while the back hall venerates Avalokiteshvara. The second floor is dedicated to the worship of various Buddhist and Taoist deities. Visitors to Yong'an Temple can not only appreciate the rich paper-cut artworks but also discover some interesting little details. For instance, inside the temple, the flower罩 (cover) in the worship hall displays a plaque inscribed with "Eternal Blessings for Peace," symbolizing the spirit of Yong'an. Additionally, the couplets at the entrance contain hidden nuances. The content of the entrance couplet reads, "Holy Virtues aligned with the heavens, great mercy lasts long like the Yangtze River's calm waves," which differs from the common pattern of temple name acrostics; the first character of both lines does not spell "Yong'an" but "Holy Mother," with the temple name subtly embedded in the second to last character, clearly identifying the main deity being worshipped and the location.
