Yonglian Temple Introduction
Yonglian Temple is located at the intersection of Desheng Street and Chenggong Road in the center of Luzhou District, named "Yonglian" due to its position in the Lotus Cave. Luzhou was formerly known as "Monk's Abode" because the land was historically managed by monks, hence the name "Monk Island." The main deity enshrined in the temple is the statue of the Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara, accompanied by deities Shan Cai, Long Nu, Wei Tuo, and the guardian deity Ka Lan, making it a center of local faith. The overall architecture is a combined temple format of Yonglian Temple in the front and Mao De Palace in the back. The decorations inside and outside Yonglian Temple mainly utilize techniques such as paper-mache, paintings, wood carvings, and stone sculptures, with a unique technique featuring numerous flying celestial musicians that are rare in other temples. In front of the rear hall Mao De Palace, there is a bronze relief covering the entire wall that depicts the historical sites of Zheng Chenggong, a modern style of bronze relief decoration. On both sides of the gate stand two Buddhist guardian deities, with Wei Tuo holding a vajra on the left and Ka Lan holding a spear on the right, each nearly one meter tall. Yonglian Temple originally started as a small thatched cottage but has undergone renovations four times in just a decade, evolving into the magnificent temple seen today. Every year, from the 17th to the 19th day of the ninth month of the lunar calendar, known as the "Buddha's Ordination Anniversary," Yonglian Temple hosts grand celebrations; particularly on the 18th, a procession known as "Luzhou Grand Worship" takes place, with various temples participating, becoming a lively local event in Luzhou. (Source: New Taipei City Tourism Website)
