Wenwu Temple Introduction
During the Japanese colonial period, there were originally two temples by Sun Moon Lake, namely Longfeng Temple in Shuishe Village and Yihua Hall, which was originally located in Buqi Village (today known as Yuehui Village). Later, due to the Japanese construction of power generation projects, the water level of Sun Moon Lake rose, necessitating the relocation of both temples. The electric power company acquired the assets of the temples, which then used the proceeds to choose a site and merge to build a new temple. In 1934, the temple was rebuilt in Songbolun on the northern bank of Sun Moon Lake, and completed its relocation in 1938. In 1969, the Wenwu Temple was rebuilt again in the style of Northern Chinese architecture, grand in scale and imposing in presence. The temple consists of three main halls: the front hall on the second floor is Shuiyun Palace, dedicated to the founding ancestors and Wenchang Dijun, the middle hall is the Wusheng Hall, dedicated to Guan Sheng Dijun and Yue Wumu Wang, and the back hall, Dacheng Hall, is dedicated to the Sage Confucius and others, housing deities from Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism together. The Dacheng Hall of Wenwu Temple is the only Confucius temple in Taiwan with a central door. According to the temple, this was because Wenwu Temple, located by Sun Moon Lake, usually has many visitors, and the central door was added for the convenience of tourist access, without any particular intention. However, the bronze statue of Confucius seated in the Dacheng Hall is the only Confucius temple in Taiwan that enshrines a sacred statue. In addition to Confucius's statue, there are also those of Mencius and Zisi, which originally were enshrined in China, and during the Boxer Rebellion in the late Qing Dynasty, ended up in Japan's Sayama Fudo Temple, from where they were later replicated and relocated to Wenwu Temple. As for the statues of Yanzi and Zengzi, they were later sculpted through fundraising by their descendants to accompany Confucius. The massive vermilion stone lions on both sides of the square in front of the temple also attract the attention of visitors. These stone lions were donated by Wu Huoshi, the founder of Shin Kong Group, and as a result, local residents affectionately refer to them as "Wu Huoshi." With its backdrop of mountains and the lake in front, Wenwu Temple boasts a magnificent terrain and beautiful scenery, serving as a center of faith for nearby residents with thriving incense offerings. From the observation platform at the rear hall, one can have a distant view of Sun Moon Lake, with a broad sight that embodies a great embrace of the world.
