Lung Tian Temple Introduction
Legend has it that Lord Lei, a deity of the Nine Heavens Thunder Department, was summoned during the Qing Dynasty's Qianlong reign to save the people. In 1947, he was again sent by the Jade Emperor of the Nine Heavens to descend to Taiwan's Dalin, to help the public and save all beings. In 1982, Longtian Temple, due to years of disrepair and increasing crowds, was rebuilt by local residents. The groundbreaking ceremony took place on November 10 that year, and it took three years and two months to complete the construction. The restored Longtian Temple is magnificent and dazzling, and on November 3, 1986, it held the consecration ceremony. Residents of Yihe Village in Dalin Town have long believed that Lord Lei can bless them with health and bountiful crops. Every year on the 14th day of the eighth lunar month, which marks Lord Lei's birthday and the anniversary of the White Crane Boy, Longtian Temple holds a celebration where villagers prepare offerings and gather at the temple to pay their respects. There is also a stage built in front of the temple where performances take place. The lively festivities are a rare event in this tranquil countryside. In front of Longtian Temple, there is a century-old well with clear water that has never run dry and is exceptionally sweet, which used to be an important source of drinking water for local residents. During the Dragon Boat Festival, villagers compete to draw "noon water." It is believed that noon water can cure various ailments, and the water drawn from this ancient well in front of Longtian Temple can be stored for long periods without spoiling. Many people use it for making tea, healing, cleansing, and other purposes. When the temple was rebuilt, this ancient well was the center of the construction, with a dragon-shaped fountain representing the area's spiritual energy at its top. If visitors go there during the Dragon Boat Festival, they will see villagers gathering in front of the dragon head statue, eagerly drawing noon water, creating a spectacular scene. (Source: Cultural Resources Geographic Information System)
