Mengjia Qingshui Temple Introduction
Qingshui Temple is located at the intersection of Kangding Road and Changsha Road. It is primarily dedicated to Qingshui Master, and is therefore referred to as Qingshui Temple or Qingshui Rock. Qingshui Master is commonly known in Taiwanese folklore as Master Ancestor, Black-faced Master, Penglai Master, and other various titles. He was a person from the Northern Song Dynasty, born in Fujian Province. His secular name is variously said to be Chen Zhao, Chen Ying, or Chen Zhao Ying. From a young age, he practiced Buddhism and attained enlightenment, constructing a small hermitage for cultivation in the rocky mountains of Penglai. The clear and cold water in the cave led to the hermitage being named Qingshui Rock, which is the origin of the name "Qingshui Master." Legend has it that while cultivating in Qingshui Rock, a ghost used a great fire to blacken the master's face, yet he remained unscathed, thus earning the title "Black-faced Master." The title "Fallen Nose Master" comes from the legend that whenever a disaster is about to occur near the temple, the master's nose will automatically fall off to warn the residents and worshippers. On the dragon and tiger walls of Qingshui Rock, intricate brick carvings can be seen. The couplet on the main entrance reads: “For Qingshui, for Penglai, this place divides the Dharma realm; Is it a golden body, is it an iron face, once you enter, you see the true form.” This is an artistic work from the restoration in 1817. Additionally, it is worth mentioning that there is a plaque bestowed by Emperor Guangxu inscribed with the words "Meritorious Assistance and Rescue."
