Wenwu Temple Introduction
During the Japanese colonial period, there were originally two temples by Sun Moon Lake, including Longfeng Temple in Shuishan Village and Yihua Hall, which was originally in Bugai Village (now Jiyue Village). Later, due to the Japanese construction of a hydroelectric power project, the water level of Sun Moon Lake rose, necessitating the relocation of the two temples. The Electric Power Company purchased the assets of the temples, which then used the proceeds to consolidate and build a new temple in 1934 at Songbailun on the northern shore of Sun Moon Lake, completing the relocation in 1938. In 1969, the Wenwu Temple was rebuilt as a grand structure in the style of Northern Song Dynasty architecture; the temple consists of three main halls: the front hall on the second floor is Shuiyun Hall, dedicated to the founding ancestor and Wenchang Dijun, the middle hall is the Wusheng Hall, dedicated to Guan Sheng Dijun and Yue Wumu Wang, and the rear hall is the Dacheng Hall, which enshrines Confucius and other deities of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism together. The Dacheng Hall of Wenwu Temple is the only Confucian temple in Taiwan with a central gate; according to the temple, this was added for the convenience of the many tourists visiting the lakeside, with no special meaning. However, the bronze statue of Confucius in the Dacheng Hall is the only Confucian temple in Taiwan that has a holy likeness; besides the statue of Confucius, there are also statues of Mencius and Zisi. These three statues were originally enshrined in China and were displaced to Japan's Sayama Fudou Temple during the Boxer Rebellion at the end of the Qing Dynasty before being replicated and moved to Wenwu Temple. The statues of Yan Zi and Zeng Zi were later funded and created by their descendants to accompany Confucius. The massive crimson stone lions flanking the temple square are also a focal point for tourists; this pair of stone lions was donated by Wu Huoshi, the founder of Shin Kong Group, hence the local residents affectionately refer to them as "Wu Huoshi." Situated against the mountains and facing the lake, the Wenwu Temple has a majestic topography and beautiful scenery, serving as a religious center for nearby residents, with vibrant incense offerings. From the observation deck of the rear hall, one can gaze out over Sun Moon Lake, with a broad vista that embodies a spirit of embracing the world.
