Lotus Temple Introduction
In the third year of the Guangxu era, County Magistrate Li Shensi of Zhuzhun passed by the site of the current Lotus Temple. Facing the Eighteen Peaks Mountain and the Touqian River, he deeply admired the spiritual significance of the land and suggested that the local gentry build a temple. In 1878, twelve local gentry members, including Lin Xixian, initiated the establishment of Lotus Temple (commonly known as Guanyin Temple), which primarily worships Guanyin Bodhisattva. In 1895, after Taiwan was ceded to Japan, the temple was affected by turmoil and fell into desolation. By 1904, local gentry members Lin Ronghe, Lin Qifu, and Yang Qingyun initiated its reconstruction, leading to a resurgence of worship. In the 48th year of the Republic of China, Master Xiu Hui took over as the abbot and, with a sincere Buddhist heart, focused on improving the environment, renovating the main hall and residences while maintaining the ancient style, thus revitalizing the temple and making it a holy place for worshipers from Zhubei and beyond. The overall structure of Lotus Temple consists of two main halls, two corridors, and two lateral buildings. The main building was damaged during the wartime but was later restored by subsequent generations, leading to its present appearance. The architecture of Lotus Temple not only preserves characteristics from the late Qing Dynasty, the early Japanese colonial period, and the early post-war period but also serves as a center for regional religious and cultural integration, making it an excellent resource for the study of local culture.