Lianhua Temple Introduction
In the third year of the Qing Guangxu era, Li Shenye, the county magistrate of Zhushan (present-day Hsinchu City), passed by the current site of Lianhua Temple. In admiration of the spiritual significance of Shibajian Mountain and Toudian Creek, he encouraged local gentry to establish a temple. In 1878, twelve local gentry, including Lin Xixian, initiated the construction of Lianhua Temple (commonly known as Guanyin Temple), which is dedicated to Avalokiteshvara (Guanyin). After Taiwan was ceded to Japan in 1895, the temple suffered from war devastation and fell into ruin. In 1904, local gentry including Lai Ronghe, Lin Qifu, and Yang Qingyun spearheaded its reconstruction, which led to a revival of its religious activities. In the 48th year of the Republic of China, Master Xiu Hui took over as the abbot, determined to improve the environment by renovating the main hall and other buildings while maintaining the historical aesthetics. As a result, the temple was revitalized and became a pilgrimage site for believers from Zhubei and beyond. Lianhua Temple consists of two main halls, two corridors, and two transverse buildings. Although the main structure was damaged during wartime, it was restored by later generations into its current form. Overall, Lianhua Temple's architecture retains features from the late Qing Dynasty, early Japanese colonial period, and early post-war period, making it a central hub for regional religious culture and an excellent resource for the study of local cultural heritage.
