Mengjia Longshan Temple Introduction
Longshan Temple, a significant landmark, is grand in scale and exquisite in sculpture. It was rebuilt after the major earthquake in the 20th year of the Jiaqing era (1815) and again after a storm in the 6th year of the Tongzhi era (1867). In the 8th year of the Republic of China, the beams were damaged by termites, and the abbot Master Fuzhi donated over 7,000 yuan in savings to fund the restoration, laying the foundation for the current scale of Longshan Temple. During the 34th year of the Republic of China, it was severely damaged by aerial bombing during World War II, resulting in the complete destruction of the main hall, yet the statue of Guanyin Bodhisattva still sat majestically on the lotus pedestal. Previously, during air raids, residents would seek refuge under the lotus seat of Guanyin Bodhisattva, but on the eve of this bombing, residents returned home due to a mosquito infestation, resulting in no casualties when the main hall was destroyed. This miraculous event led residents to believe that they were protected by Guanyin Bodhisattva, making her a significant spiritual pillar for the people of Monga. Longshan Temple faces south, constructed in a square shape reminiscent of traditional Chinese palatial architecture with a three-courtyard and four-hall layout, consisting of the front hall, main hall, rear hall, and the guardian dragons on both sides. The front hall has 11 bays and is divided into the San Chuan Hall, Longmen Hall, and Humen Hall. In front of the San Chuan Hall, there is a pair of unique bronze coiled dragon pillars found only in Taiwan, and the main wall is made of a mix of granite and blue stone, with stories on the wall inspired by "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" and "Investiture of the Gods," rich in educational significance. The roof of the main hall adopts a hip-and-gable style with a surrounding corridor supported by 42 columns. The outer walls of the hall feature many stone carvings by famous calligraphers, while the spiral ceiling is constructed entirely using interlocking wooden brackets, without the use of nails or iron. The roof of the rear hall also follows the hip-and-gable style and serves as a typical worship place for the Confucian and Taoist deities. The guardian dragons on each side are equipped with a bell tower and a drum tower, featuring a uniquely shaped hexagonal roof. The ridges and eaves of the entire temple are adorned with auspicious motifs like dragons and phoenixes, decorated with cut-paste and Chaozhou pottery, showcasing vibrant colors and exemplifying the essence of Taiwan's cut-paste art. In the 74th year of the Republic of China, the government declared Longshan Temple in Monga as a nationally protected second-level historic site, ranking alongside the National Palace Museum and the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall as one of the three major tourist attractions in Taiwan for international visitors. Longshan Temple has also constructed a cultural plaza building on Cultural Road in Banqiao, which was completed in the 94th year of the Republic of China and hosts various courses and lectures to promote Buddhist teachings and advocate cultural values. Every year, Longshan Temple holds regular festive celebrations and folk activities, such as the lantern festival in the first lunar month, Buddha bathing festival in April, and the Ullambana Festival in July. Visitors to Longshan Temple not only appreciate the beauty of Taiwan's temple architecture but also experience the joy of traditional folk culture. (Source: Official website of Monga Longshan Temple)
