Mengjia Longshan Temple Introduction
Longshan Temple, founded in the early days, features a grand scale and exquisite carvings. It underwent renovations after a major earthquake in the 20th year of Jiaqing (1815 AD), and again after a storm in the 6th year of Tongzhi (1867 AD). In the 8th year of the Republic of China, the beams were damaged by termites, and the abbot Master Fuzhi donated his life savings of over seven thousand yuan to fund repairs, laying the foundation for the temple's current scale. During World War II in the 34th year of the Republic of China, the temple was severely damaged by air raids, with the main hall completely destroyed; however, the statue of Guanyin Bodhisattva remained seated on the lotus pedestal, exuding a majestic presence. In the past, during air raids, residents sought refuge beneath the lotus seat of Guanyin Bodhisattva, but on the eve of this air raid, many residents returned home due to the chaos caused by vicious mosquitoes, resulting in no casualties when the main hall was destroyed. This event led the residents to believe that Guanyin Bodhisattva had protected them, further solidifying her role as a significant spiritual support for the residents of Mengjia. Longshan Temple is oriented southwards and features a square plan, characterized as a classical Chinese palace-style building of the three-entry and four-courtyard type, consisting of the front hall, main hall, rear hall, and side guarding dragons. The front hall has 11 openings and includes the San Chuan Hall, Longmen Hall, and Humen Hall. In front of the San Chuan Hall are a pair of brass dragon pillars, unique to Taiwan, while the front wall is constructed from a mix of granite and bluestone, adorned with stories from "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" and "Investiture of the Gods," rich in educational significance. The roof of the main hall is designed in a hip-and-gable style, supported by 42 columns lining the surrounding walkway. The outer walls feature several stone inscriptions by famous calligraphers, and the spiral algae ceiling is constructed entirely of interlocking brackets, without nails or iron. The rear hall also has a hip-and-gable roof, serving as a typical worship place for Confucian and Taoist deities. Each side guarding dragon is equipped with a bell tower and a drum tower, with unique octagonal roofs resembling a ceremonial canopy. The temple's roof ridges and eaves are adorned with auspicious motifs such as dragons, phoenixes, and qilins, embellished with paper-cutting and traditional Takou pottery, showcasing vibrant colors and representing the essence of Taiwanese paper-cutting art. In the 74th year of the Republic of China, the government designated Mengjia Longshan Temple as a nationally protected second-class historical site, ranking alongside the National Palace Museum and the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall as one of the three major tourist attractions in Taiwan. Longshan Temple has also built a cultural plaza building on Cultural Road in Banqiao, which was completed and opened in the 94th year of the Republic of China, hosting various courses and lectures to promote Buddhist teachings and advocate for social education cultural values. Mengjia Longshan Temple regularly holds festive celebrations and folk activities throughout the year, such as the Lunar New Year Lantern Festival, the Bathing of the Buddha Festival in April, and the Ghost Festival in July. Visitors to Mengjia Longshan Temple can not only appreciate the beauty of Taiwanese temple architectural art but also enjoy traditional folk cultural activities. (Source: Official website of Mengjia Longshan Temple)
