Donglong Temple Wangye Belief Cultural Museum Introduction
Donglong Cultural Center, with its rich collection of folk artifacts, houses the Donglong Temple Wang Ye Beliefs Museum, covering over 200 square meters. The museum features a blend of palace and traditional Minnan architectural styles. Located on the third floor, the Donglong Temple Wang Ye Beliefs Museum's main highlight is the display of the origins of Wang Ye beliefs and the early rural temple fairs' process of welcoming deities. It collects a large number of documents concerning early Wang Ye beliefs and invites sculptors to carve over dozens of battle formations related to the beliefs, such as the Song Jiang formation, the centipede formation of 36 sections, divine sedan chairs, and more, all preserved in camphor wood. Each figure's expression is lively, providing visitors with a dynamic experience of the lively performances commonly seen during temple fairs, while also gaining a deeper understanding of folk arts related to rituals like inviting and sending off deities. The Heroes of Water Margin Museum, another feature of the Donglong Temple Wang Ye Beliefs Museum, showcases ceramic statues of the 108 heroes from "Water Margin". Originally, Liangshan Marsh had no connection to Wang Ye beliefs, but due to the temple management's interest, they collected these statues. Renowned ceramic artists from Shiwai, Guangdong, were hired and spent three years crafting 108 lifelike statues of Jiaozhi pottery, showcasing intricate craftsmanship that reflects the rough characteristics of the heroic figures who assist the weak against the strong, making it a rare folk art piece in the country. The Ritual Artifacts Museum, located on the eastern side of the fourth floor, serves as an extension of the Wang Ye beliefs museum, primarily displaying folk ritual artifacts. This includes gold and silver paper, ritual implements, and birthday celebration setups, all explained in detail for their importance and uses, offering a thematic repository for the research and preservation of folk customs.
