aeeble

The temple building of Yonglian Temple is located at the intersection of Desheng Street and Chenggong Road in the center of Luzhou District. The name "Yonglian" comes from the fact that the land is known as a "Lotus Hole." In the past, Luzhou was also called "Heshangcuo" because the land was managed by monks, hence the name "Heshangzhou." The main hall enshrines an image of Guanyin, the Bodhisattva of the South Sea, accompanied by the deities Shancai, Longnu, Skanda, and the guardian deities of the temple. It serves as the local faith center. The overall architecture combines the front Yonglian Temple and the rear Mao De Gong Temple, forming a joint temple complex. The decorations within and outside Yonglian Temple mainly use techniques such as plaster molding, painting, wood carving, and stone carving. The most unique feature is the numerous flying Apsaras decorations, which are rarely seen in other temples. In the front of the Mao De Gong Temple in the rear hall, a large bronze relief depicting the historical events of Koxinga is installed, covering the entire wall. This modern-style bronze relief decoration is a distinctive feature. Outside the temple gates, two Buddhist guardian deities are erected on each side: Skanda holding a pestle on the left and Sangharama holding a spear on the right, each nearly ten feet tall. Yonglian Temple initially was just a small hut, but within ten years, it underwent reconstruction four times, becoming the magnificent temple it is today. Every year, from September 17 to 19 on the lunar calendar, known as the "Buddha's Renunciation Day," Yonglian Temple hosts grand ceremonies. Especially on September 18, a procession is held, commonly referred to as the "Luzhou Great Ritual," with participation from various temples and groups, making it one of the most lively local events of the year.