Donglong Temple Wangye Belief Museum Introduction
Donglong Cultural Center, with its rich collection of folk artifacts, features the Donglong Temple Wangye Belief Museum spanning over 200 square meters. The building is designed with a mix of palace and traditional Minnan architectural styles. Located on the third floor, the Donglong Temple Wangye Belief Museum is distinguished by its display of the origins of Wangye belief and the early rural temple fairs for welcoming deities. The museum has a large collection of documents related to the early Wangye belief and invites sculptors to carve various forms of temple performances, such as the Song Jiang阵, the "Centipede阵" of 36 festival segments, deity palanquins, and more from camphor wood. Each figure is vividly and energetically expressed, allowing visitors to experience the lively performances of various folklore parade styles, as well as to gain in-depth knowledge about rituals for inviting and sending off deities and other folk arts through static artifact displays. The Heroes of Water Margin Hall is another highlight of the Donglong Temple Wangye Belief Museum, featuring ceramic sculptures of the 108 heroes from "Water Margin." Originally, there was no connection between Liangshan and Wangye belief, but due to the fondness of the temple management, the pieces were collected. A master sculptor from the Shiwan Ceramic Art Factory in Guangdong, China was invited, spending three years to complete the 108 lifelike ceramic figures, each showcasing intricate craftsmanship and vividly reflecting the rough personalities of heroes who support the weak. These works are rare examples of folk art in the country. The Ritual Artifacts Museum, located on the east side of the fourth floor, is an auxiliary museum that extends the Wangye belief artifacts. It mainly displays folk ritual artifacts, including gold and silver paper, religious instruments, and celebratory arrangements. Each item is explained in detail regarding its purpose, providing a thematic museum for the study and preservation of folk customs.
