Yunglian Temple Introduction
Yonglian Temple is located at the junction of Desheng Street and Chenggong Road in the center of Luzhou District, named "Yonglian" due to the area's lotus-shaped landform. Luzhou was also known as "Monk Village" in the past because the land was once governed by monks. The main deity of the temple is the statue of Guanyin Bodhisattva (the Bodhisattva of Compassion), accompanied by the deities Shancai, Longnu, Weita, and Kalachakra, making it a local center of faith. The overall architecture consists of the front part, Yonglian Temple, and the back part, Maode Palace, in a joint worship style. The decorations inside and outside the temple primarily use methods such as paper-cutting, clay sculpture, painting, wood carving, and stone carving. One unique technique is the numerous celestial musicians artfully displayed, which is particularly rare in other temples. In front of the Maode Palace, there is a large bronze relief covering the wall, depicting the historical figures of Koxinga (Zheng Chenggong). This modern bronze relief decoration method is quite distinctive. On each side of the entrance, there are two Buddhist guardian deities: on the left is Weita, holding a pestle, and on the right is Kalachakra, holding a spear with a stupa, each nearly ten feet tall. Originally, Yonglian Temple was just a small hut, but within ten years it had undergone renovations and has been rebuilt four times, becoming the splendid temple it is today. Every year, from the 17th to the 19th day of the ninth lunar month, known as the "Buddha's Renunciation Day," Yonglian Temple hosts grand celebrations; especially on the 18th, a procession is held, commonly referred to as "Luzhou Grand Worship," where various temples participate, making it a lively local event in Luzhou each year. (Source: New Taipei City Tourism and Travel Website)
