Ziyun Temple Introduction
Ziyun Temple is a renowned third-level historic site in the Chiayi area, located at the edge of the Alishan Mountain Range at Bantian Rock, approximately 17 kilometers from Chiayi City. As one of the older historic sites among Buddhist temples in Taiwan, it was established in the 21st year of the Kangxi Emperor's reign (1682), making it over three hundred years old today. Ziyun Temple faces southeast with a temple structure composed of five spans and two sections, flanked by two corridors with protective dragons. In front, there is a spacious temple courtyard, and on either side of the water corridor are two-story bell and drum towers. The pillars of the main hall are inscribed with the phrases: "The purple light observes the colors, the cloud shadows reflect the cicada's heart." The exterior eaves are decorated with three beams, and pairs of stone-carved qilin are positioned by the main entrance. The craftsmanship of Ziyun Temple is exceptionally fine; the carvings on the dragon columns, phoenix tails, and roof beams are impressive. Between the gable walls, there is the "Buddha Lamp Stele" from 1765 (established by Master Juefeng, which clarifies the temple's property boundaries), the "Bantian Rock Reconstruction Stele" from 1857 (erected by Guo Zhuohai), the records of the construction of the Celebration Hall, and the "Buddha Stele of Bantian Rock," among eight ancient steles, whose inscriptions are still legible today. In front of the temple, there are two ancient plum trees over 200 years old, known as the "Mandarin Duck Plums"; and several hectares of Paulownia and Tung trees surround the temple. During flowering season, it creates a stunning sea of white blossoms, and the fragrance wafts through the air, invigorating the spirit.
