Lotus Temple Introduction
In the third year of the Guangxu era, County Magistrate Li Shenyi of Zhuqian passed by the site of Lianhua Temple. Admiring the spiritual beauty of the Eighteen Peaks Mountain and the头前溪(Touqian River), he suggested that the local gentry build a temple. In 1878, twelve gentlemen, including Lin Xixian, initiated the construction of Lianhua Temple (commonly known as Guanyin Temple), which mainly enshrines Avalokiteshvara. In 1895, Taiwan was ceded to Japan, leading to chaos, and the temple fell into disrepair. However, in 1904, local gentlemen such as Lin Ronghe, Lin Qifu, and Yang Qingyun initiated its reconstruction, which led to a resurgence of worship. In the 48th year of the Republic of China, Master Xiu Hui took over as the abbot, with a Buddhist heart dedicated to improving the environment, repairing the main hall and living quarters while maintaining the ancient style, thus revitalizing the temple and making it a sacred place for pilgrims from Zhubei and nearby areas. Lianhua Temple has a layout of two halls, two corridors, and two transverse buildings. The main structure was damaged during the war but was later restored, resulting in its current appearance. Overall, the architecture of Lianhua Temple not only retains the features from the late Qing Dynasty, early Japanese colonial period, and early post-war period but also serves as a center for regional faith and culture, making it an excellent resource for the study of local cultural heritage.
