Zhishanyan Hwaijih Temple Introduction
At the foot of Huiji Temple, there is a square resembling a grassland, featuring models of sheep, as if the ancestors were herding their flocks here. Following the steps upward, one passes through the woods, feeling a dim ambiance, with moss growing on the nearby rock walls, exuding an ancient charm. Along the way, one encounters a stone arch, a historical relic of Zhishan. Beyond this point, the path opens up significantly; after navigating a bend, the flat road presents a stark contrast to the earlier sensation, and Huiji Temple is nestled amid it. When the Zhangzhou people came to Shilin, they also brought their guardian deity, the "Kaizhang Shengwang." According to legend, Zhishan was originally the land of a wealthy man named Huang Shan. About two hundred years ago, Huang Chengqing, a relative from Pinghe County in Zhangzhou, brought the incense of Kaizhang Shengwang to Taiwan and hung it on Zhishan, where miraculous events were said to occur. The community pooled their resources and constructed Huiji Temple in 1752. Soon after, due to the worship of Guanyin, it was also known as Zhishanyan Temple. In 1840, Pan Yongqing, a local gentry member in Shilin, established the Wenchang Shrine on Zhishanyan and hired teachers to educate the children. By 1874, the three temples were merged, and they collectively became known as Huiji Temple. Nowadays, many visitors come to Huiji Temple to pray for success in exams, where there is a Wenchang brush. It is said that touching the "Wenchang brush" will grant blessings, so parents often bring their children to touch it, hoping for smooth exam outcomes.
