Yonglian Temple Introduction
Yonglian Temple, an architectural complex, is located at the intersection of Desheng Street and Chenggong Road in the center of Luzhou District. It is named "Yonglian" because the land is associated with a lotus position. Luzhou was formerly known as "Monk's Dwelling," as the land was historically managed by monks. The temple primarily enshrines the statue of Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva, along with Shancai, Longnv, Weituo, and Kṣitigarbha as protective deities, serving as the center of local faith. The overall structure consists of the front half being Yonglian Temple and the back half being Maode Palace in a joint worship style. The temple's interior and exterior decorations mainly feature cut clay sculptures, paintings, wood carvings, and stone carvings. Among its unique techniques are the numerous celestial musicians, which are especially rare in other temples. In front of the Maode Palace at the back hall, there is a bronze relief that covers the walls, depicting historical events related to Zheng Chenggong, utilizing large modern bronze reliefs for decoration. On either side of the entrance stand two protective Buddhist deities: on the left is Weituo with a pestle, and on the right is Kṣitigarbha holding a spear, each nearly one zhang (approximately 3.1 meters) tall. Yonglian Temple initially started as a small thatched hut but underwent renovations within just ten years, experiencing four major reconstructions, resulting in the splendid temple we see today. Every year from the 17th to the 19th day of the ninth lunar month, known as the "Buddha's Ordination Anniversary," Yonglian Temple holds grand celebrations, especially on the 18th when a procession, commonly referred to as "Luzhou Grand Worship," takes place, involving participation from various temple groups, making it a bustling annual event in Luzhou.
