aeeble

Locally known as the Guanyin Temple, it is currently designated as a Grade Three Cultural Asset. Despite multiple renovations since its construction, it retains its appearance and scale from over 200 years ago, becoming a precious cultural heritage site. In 2013, it was selected by the Ministry of the Interior as one of the "100 Most Prestigious Religious Sites in Taiwan", a designation of great historical significance. Lianshuozan stands isolated in the Dahan River, its formation resembling a lotus emerging from water, hence the name. In the third year of the Qing Jiaqing era (1797 A.D.), Zhong Shangyi and others raised funds to construct a Buddhist temple in the cliff, venerating the goddess of mercy Guanyin and the golden statues of the Eighteen Arhats, naming it Guanyin Temple. In the 37th year of the Meiji era (1904 A.D.), local gentry in Taixi, noting the temple was in danger of collapsing, raised funds for a major renovation and newly constructed the offerings hall. In the 14th year of the Taisho era (1925 A.D.), another round of fundraising was initiated for thorough repairs. By the ninth year of the Showa era (1934 A.D.), the original offerings hall was transformed into a hip-and-gable double-eave offering hall as seen today. Due to topographic constraints, Lianshuozan Guanyin Temple could not develop in a longitudinal direction. It is a five-door single-dome structured temple, featuring a triple-ridge roof for the central hall with a front offerings hall, representing the architectural hallmark of Guanyin Temple. The roof adopts the double-eave hip-and-gable form, while the hall features an eight-trigrams coffered ceiling. The temple's ceramic glaze and clay sculptures are exquisitely lifelike, with wooden carvings, stone carvings, and murals that are rustic yet refined. Approximately 10 meters to the right of the temple, among the shade of trees, sits the Jingsheng Hall (literally "paper-reverence pavilion"), an ancient structure of special interest known as the "Kuixing Tower," built in the 11th year of the Showa era (1936 A.D.). Worshiped within is Kuixing God (Star of Literature), in a three-story brick structure with couplets inscribed on its upper and middle layers. The stone carvings of dragon-and-tiger motifs on tower's body are vividly realistic, while the ceramic latticework and sculptures are meticulously crafted. To the right of the temple, another Kuixing Tower serves as a prayer hall for literary prosperity, enshrining Kuixing God from the Big Dipper constellation, the deity who protects academic success. This tower also functions as a paper-reverence pavilion, combining the architectural features of a paper incinerator with the gabled tiles typical of a temple. It is adorned with carved auspicious beasts and relief decorations, appearing extremely grand. Beside the Kuixing Tower sits another small pavilion, honoring the Earth God and Tree Spirit. Though humble in appearance, this small temple is said to predate the Guanyin Temple and is also historically significant. Source: Cultural Affairs Bureau of the [Local Government]