Yonglian Temple Introduction
Yonglian Temple is located at the intersection of Dexing Street and Chenggong Road in the center of Luzhou District. It is named "Yonglian" because the area is situated within a lotus field. Luzhou was formerly known as "Monk's Land" because the land was once managed by monks, hence it is also called "Monk's Island." The main hall enshrines the statue of Guanyin Buddha of the South Sea, accompanied by the deities Shancai, Longnu, Weituo, and Jialan, serving as a spiritual center for the local community. The overall architecture is a combined structure of Yonglian Temple and Maode Palace. The temple's interior and exterior decorations predominantly employ techniques such as cut clay sculpture, painting, wood carving, and stone carving. One of the most unique techniques is the presence of numerous flying musicians, which is rare in other temples. In front of the rear hall, Maode Palace, there is a bronze relief that covers the wall, portraying historical events related to Koxinga. The design of this modern bronze relief is quite distinctive. On either side of the entrance, there are two Buddhist guardian deities, with Weituo holding a pestle on the left and Jialan holding a spear on the right, each nearly a meter tall. Yonglian Temple began as a small thatched cottage, but within just ten years, it underwent renovations, experiencing four rebuilds, and has become the magnificent temple it is today. Every year from the 17th to 19th of the lunar calendar's ninth month, known as the "Buddha's Ordination Day," Yonglian Temple hosts grand celebrations. Particularly on September 18th, there is a pilgrimage event commonly referred to as "Luzhou Grand Worship," where various temple groups from different regions participate, making it a lively local festival each year in Luzhou.
