Wufeng Temple Introduction
Historical Background: Year of Construction: 25th Year of Jiaqing (1820) Deity Worshipped: Wu Feng Phone: (05) 2539991 The earliest known Wu Feng Temple originated in the 25th year of Jiaqing (1820), converted from the Tongshi Pavilion by the local interpreter Yang Mi, and was commonly referred to by the villagers as the Alishan Zhongwang Temple. In the 39th year of Meiji (1906), the temple collapsed during a major earthquake. In the 2nd year of Taisho (1913), the temple was rebuilt with funding from the Japanese government, with the fifth Governor-General of Taiwan, Sakuma, presiding over the completion ceremony. In the 6th year of Showa (1931), it was rebuilt again, expanding to include the worship hall, main hall, and side rooms, along with a large garden. The fourteenth Governor-General, Ota, came to pay respects upon its completion. After World War II, it underwent several renovations, adding a display room for cultural artifacts and a memorial pavilion, and in the 74th year of the Republic of China (1985), it was expanded into a memorial park, with additional constructions of a rear hall and side rooms. The entrance archway of this temple features a solemn and dignified design, adopting the "Five Mountains Facing the Sky" style for its gable. Upon passing through the archway, instead of a typical temple courtyard, there is an expansive green area and walking paths, reflecting the temple's focus on commemoration rather than large-scale ceremonial activities. The worship hall and main hall serve as the primary sacred spaces, while the rear side rooms function as reception and exhibition areas, with the rear hall dedicated to the worship of Wu Feng. Architectural Overview: The most exquisite structure of the Wu Feng Temple is undoubtedly the worship hall, supported by eight pillars designed in a Western architectural style. The wood carvings in the worship hall are exceptionally intricate, with lion and qilin motifs on the main beams serving as connecting structures. Other carved themes include traditional theater, floral and avian designs, and even fish, shrimp, and crabs. Additionally, the hall’s paintings were created by the renowned artist Kuo Hsin-Lin from Lugang, featuring rich and elegant colors. The worship hall's roof showcases a long, pointed ridge and intricate tile decorations, with the tile-cutting technique being elaborate and detailed, while the gable ends are adorned with owl patterns, giving it a distinct appearance. Although the quantities of paintings and carvings in the main hall's roof structure do not match those of the worship hall, they are still quite refined and beautiful, particularly the vividly colored civil deity paintings, which are exceptional. Architectural Features: The earliest known Wu Feng Temple originated in the 25th year of Jiaqing (1820), converted from the Tongshi Pavilion by the local interpreter Yang Mi, and was commonly referred to by the villagers as the Alishan Zhongwang Temple. In the 39th year of Meiji (1906), the temple collapsed during a major earthquake. In the 2nd year of Taisho (1913), the temple was rebuilt with funding from the Japanese government, with the fifth Governor-General of Taiwan, Sakuma, presiding over the completion ceremony. In the 6th year of Showa (1931), it was rebuilt again, expanding to include the worship hall, main hall, and side rooms, along with a large garden. The fourteenth Governor-General, Ota, came to pay respects upon its completion. After World War II, it underwent several renovations, adding a display room for cultural artifacts and a memorial pavilion, and in the 74th year of the Republic of China (1985), it was expanded into a memorial park, with additional constructions of a rear hall and side rooms. The entrance archway of this temple features a solemn and dignified design, adopting the "Five Mountains Facing the Sky" style for its gable. Upon passing through the archway, instead of a typical temple courtyard, there is an expansive green area and walking paths, reflecting the temple's focus on commemoration rather than large-scale ceremonial activities. The worship hall and main hall serve as the primary sacred spaces, while the rear side rooms function as reception and exhibition areas, with the rear hall dedicated to the worship of Wu Feng.
