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 location on a lotus site. Luzhou was formerly known as "Monk's House" because the land was once managed by monks, hence it was also called "Monk's Zhou." The main hall enshrines a statue of Guanyin Buddha from the South Sea, accompanied by the deities of Shanci, Dragon Girl, Weituo, and Kṣitigarbha, serving as a local center of faith. The overall structure is a combined temple system of Yonglian Temple in the front and Maode Palace in the back. The decorations both inside and outside Yonglian Temple primarily use techniques such as cut clay sculptures, colorful paintings, wood carvings, and stone carvings. Notably, the temple features several celestial musicians known as "feitian" which are rare in other temples. In front of the back hall, Maode Palace, there is a large bronze relief depicting the historic achievements of Zheng Chenggong, a modern-style bronze relief decoration. On either side of the entrance, there stands a guardian deity of Buddhism: on the left is Weituo with a pillar pestle, and on the right is Kṣitigarbha holding a spear and a tower, both nearly a meter tall. Yonglian Temple started as a small thatched cottage but underwent renovations over a 10-year period and has been rebuilt four times, resulting in its current resplendent structure. Every year from the 17th to the 19th day of the ninth lunar month, commonly known as "Buddha's Ordination Day," Yonglian Temple holds grand celebrations; particularly on September 18, a pilgrimage activity occurs, commonly referred to as "Luzhou Grand Worship," which sees participation from various temples, making it a lively annual event in Luzhou. (Source: New Taipei City Tourism and Travel Network)
