Monga Longshan Temple

When Longshan Temple was first established, it boasted a grand scale and exquisite sculptures. It underwent major reconstruction after the great earthquake in the 20th year of Jiaqing (1815) and was rebuilt again after a typhoon in the 6th year of Tongzhi (1867). By the 8th year of Taishō (1919), its beams were damaged by termites. The abbot at the time, Master Fuzhi, led the effort by donating over 7,000 yuan from his life savings, gathering funds for its restoration and thus establishing the present-day scale of Longshan Temple. In the 34th year of the Republic (1945), during World War II, the temple was severely damaged by an air raid, and the central hall was completely destroyed. However, the sacred statue of Guanyin Bodhisattva remained seated serenely on her lotus throne, majestic and solemn. In the past, residents would take shelter beneath Guanyin Bodhisattva's lotus throne during air raids. Yet, on the eve of this particular air raid, the sheltering residents, unable to bear the severe mosquito infestation, returned to their homes one after another. Consequently, when the central hall was destroyed, no one was harmed. Residents believed it was Guanyin Bodhisattva's protection and spread the word. This miracle further solidified Guanyin Bodhisattva as a significant spiritual pillar for the residents of Monga. Longshan Temple faces south, oriented north to south, and is shaped like the Chinese character '回' (hui - meaning 'return' or a square with another square inside), embodying a classical Chinese palace-style architecture with three main halls and a quadrangle courtyard. It consists of the front hall, main hall, rear hall, and left and right side wings (護龍). The front hall has 11 bays and is divided into the Sanchuan Hall, Dragon Gate Hall, and Tiger Gate Hall. In front of the Sanchuan Hall stands a pair of bronze coiled dragon columns, unique in all of Taiwan. The main facade's wall sections are constructed from a mix of granite and bluestone. The stories depicted on the walls are mostly from 'Romance of the Three Kingdoms' and 'Investiture of the Gods', rich in educational meaning. The main hall's roof adopts a double-eaved hip-and-gable style, with a surrounding corridor supported by a total of 42 columns. The outer walls of the hall feature numerous stone carvings by famous calligraphers. The spiral caisson ceiling inside the hall is constructed without a single nail or piece of iron, entirely assembled by interlocking dougong brackets. The rear hall's roof also features a double-eaved hip-and-gable style, typically serving as a place for worshipping various deities from Confucianism and Taoism. The left and right side wings each house a bell tower and a drum tower, symbolizing 'morning bell and evening drum'. Their flat hexagonal sedan-chair-style roofs are uniquely shaped. The roof ridges and flying eaves of the entire temple are adorned with auspicious creatures like dragons, phoenixes, and qilin, decorated with *jiannian* (cut-and-paste ceramic artistry) and *Koji* ceramics, showcasing magnificent colors and representing the essence of Taiwan's *jiannian* art. In the 74th year of the Republic (1985), the government designated Monga Longshan Temple as a Grade II National Historic Site. It is listed alongside the National Palace Museum and Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall as one of the three major attractions for international tourists visiting Taiwan. Longshan Temple also constructed the Cultural Plaza Building on Wenhua Road in Banqiao. After its completion and opening in the 94th year of the Republic (2005), it has hosted various courses and lectures, fulfilling its cultural mission of promoting Buddhist teachings and advocating social education. Monga Longshan Temple regularly hosts annual festivals, ceremonies, and folk activities, such as the Lantern Festival exhibition in the first lunar month, the Buddha Bathing Festival in April, and the Ullambana Assembly in July. Visitors to Monga Longshan Temple can not only admire the beauty of Taiwanese temple architecture but also experience the joy of traditional folk culture. (Source: Monga Longshan Temple Official Website)