Zhishanyan Hwieji Temple Introduction
At the foot of Huiji Temple, there is a plaza resembling a grassland, adorned with models of sheep, creating an impression of ancestral pastoral life. Following the steps upwards, one traverses through the dimly lit forest, where moss grows on the nearby rock walls, exuding an ancient atmosphere. Along the way, there is a stone arch, a historical relic of Zhishan. After passing through, the path widens considerably; around a bend, it opens up into a flat road, dramatically different from the previous feel, where Huiji Temple is situated. The people from Zhangzhou brought their guardian deity, Emperor Kaizhang, with them to Shilin. Legend has it that Zhishan was originally the land of a wealthy man named Huang Shan. About two hundred years ago, his relative Huang Chengqing from Pinghe County in Zhangzhou brought the incense of Emperor Kaizhang to Taiwan and hung it on Zhishan. Miraculous events were said to have occurred, leading everyone to pool money together to build Huiji Temple in 1752. Shortly after, due to the worship of Guanyin Buddha, it was also known as Zhishan Rock Temple. In 1840, Pan Yongqing, a gentry of Shilin, established the Wenchang Shrine on Zhishan Rock, hiring teachers to educate children. By 1874, the three temples merged and have since collectively been known as Huiji Temple. Nowadays, visitors to Huiji Temple mainly come to pray for successful exams; there is a Wenchang Pen here. It is said that those who touch the "Wenchang Pen" will receive blessings, which is why parents bring their children to touch the pen, praying for exam success.
