Yonglian Temple Introduction
The 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 hill. Luzhou was previously known as "Monk's Hill" because the land was once managed by monks, hence the name "Monk's Island." The main hall worships the statue of Guanyin Buddha of the South Sea, accompanied by Shen Cai, Dragon Girl, Wei Tuo, and the guardian of the temple, Karyan. It serves as a center of local faith. The overall structure consists of the front half, Yonglian Temple, and the back half, Maode Palace, making it a combined temple. The decorations inside and outside the temple primarily use cut mud sculptures, paintings, wood carvings, and stone carvings. A unique feature is the numerous celestial musician figures, which are quite rare in other temples. In front of the back hall, Maode Palace, there is a bronze relief covering the wall, focusing on the historical achievements of Zheng Chenggong, decorated in a modern bronze relief style. On either side of the entrance stand two Buddhist guardian deities: Wei Tuo with a pestle on the left and Karyan with a spear on the right, both nearly one meter tall. The Yonglian Temple started as a small thatched cottage but was renovated within just ten years and has undergone four renovations, becoming the splendid temple it is today. Every year from the 17th to 19th of the ninth month of the lunar calendar, known as the "Buddha's Coming-of-Age Day," the Yonglian Temple holds grand celebrations; particularly on the 18th, a procession known as "Luzhou Great Worship" is held, with various temple parades participating, making it a lively annual event in Luzhou. (Source: New Taipei City Tourism Website)
