Mengjia Qingshui Temple Introduction
Qingshui Temple is located at the intersection of Kangding Road and Changsha Road, primarily dedicated to "Qingshui Zushi", which is why it is referred to as Qingshui Temple or Qingshui Yan, and some also call it the Zushi Temple. Qingshui Zushi, commonly referred to in Taiwanese folk belief as Zushi Gong, Wu (Black) Face Zushi, Penglai Zushi, and Luo Bi Zushi, among other names, is originally from the Northern Song Dynasty and was born in Fujian Province. His secular name varies in legends as Chen Zhao, Chen Ying, or Chen Zhao Ying. He practiced Buddhism and achieved enlightenment from a young age, and he once constructed a small hermitage for cultivation on the cliffs of Mount Penglai. The cold, clear water inside the cave led to the hermitage being named Qingshui Yan (rock), which is the origin of the name "Qingshui Zushi". According to legend, while Qingshui Zushi was practicing in Qingshui Yan, ghosts used a great fire to scorch him to the point of having a "completely black face", yet he was unharmed, thus acquiring the name "Wu (Black) Face Zushi". The name "Luo Bi Zushi" comes from the legend that whenever a disaster is about to occur near the temple, the Zushi's nose will automatically fall off to warn residents and believers. On the walls of Qingshui Yan, known as the Dragon and Tiger Walls, you can see brick-carved totems. The couplet at the main entrance reads: "For Qingshui, for Penglai, this place divides the Dharma realm; is it a golden body, is it an iron face, upon entering one sees the true visage." All these are art pieces from the 1817 renovation. Additionally, worth mentioning is the ancient plaque inscribed with "Gong Zi Zheng Ji," bestowed by Emperor Guangxu.
