The Kaihua Temple () is a
temple
A temple (from the Latin ) is a building reserved for spiritual rituals and activities such as prayer and sacrifice. Religions which erect temples include Christianity (whose temples are typically called churches), Hinduism (whose temples ...
in Guanghua Village,
Changhua City
Changhua (Hokkien POJ: ''Chiong-hòa'' or ''Chiang-hòa''), officially known as Changhua City, is a county-administered city and the county seat of Changhua County in Taiwan Province of the Republic of China. For many centuries the site was h ...
,
Changhua County
Changhua County ( Mandarin Pinyin: ''Zhānghuà Xiàn''; Wade-Giles: ''Chang¹-hua⁴ Hsien⁴''; Hokkien POJ: ''Chiang-hòa-koān'' or ''Chiong-hòa-koān'') is the smallest county on the main island of Taiwan by area, and the fourth small ...
,
Taiwan
Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is a country in East Asia, at the junction of the East and South China Seas in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, with the People's Republic of China (PRC) to the northwest, Japan to the nort ...
.
History
The temple was originally constructed in 1724 as Guanyin Shrine.
It was then the political and education center of the region. In 1753, local residents raised funds to renovate the temple. Later on, the temple became the command center for anti-
Qing Dynasty
The Qing dynasty ( ), officially the Great Qing,, was a Manchu-led imperial dynasty of China and the last orthodox dynasty in Chinese history. It emerged from the Later Jin dynasty founded by the Jianzhou Jurchens, a Tungusic-spea ...
forces and the building became half destroyed. In 1840, the temple was rebuilt. However, fire destroyed the temple in 1860. The temple was then rebuilt again during
Tongzhi Emperor
The Tongzhi Emperor (27 April 1856 – 12 January 1875), born Zaichun of the Aisin Gioro clan, was the ninth Emperor of the Qing dynasty, and the eighth Qing emperor to rule over China proper. His reign, from 1861 to 1875, which effectively laste ...
. During the
Japanese rule, the Sanchuan Gate of the temple was removed to make way for road expansion work. A new temple gate was rebuilt at the north side of Meng Road with the ''Kaihua Temple'' name inscribed onto it.
Architecture and customs
The temple consists of a main gate, main hall and one rear hall. Two stone lions stand in front.
The main deity is
Avalokitesvara bodhisattva
In Buddhism, a bodhisattva ( ; sa, 𑀩𑁄𑀥𑀺𑀲𑀢𑁆𑀢𑁆𑀯 (Brahmī), translit=bodhisattva, label=Sanskrit) or bodhisatva is a person who is on the path towards bodhi ('awakening') or Buddhahood.
In the Early Buddhist schools ...
, though at some point during the
Qing Dynasty
The Qing dynasty ( ), officially the Great Qing,, was a Manchu-led imperial dynasty of China and the last orthodox dynasty in Chinese history. It emerged from the Later Jin dynasty founded by the Jianzhou Jurchens, a Tungusic-spea ...
, it began to venerate Lord and Lady Pox, a physician couple who purportedly miraculously cured people with smallpox before disappearing. Visitors bring various lotions and makeup powders to their altar, while those who have been cured from acne bring bouquets of flowers.
Transportation
The temple is accessible within walking distance southeast of
Changhua Station
Changhua () is a railway station in Changhua City, Changhua County, Taiwan served by Taiwan Railways. It is located at the southern junction of the Taichung line and Coastal line, where the line continues onto the southern section of the West ...
of
Taiwan Railways.
See also
*
Baozang Temple
The Baozang Temple () is a Guanyin Temple in Fenyuan Township, Changhua County, Taiwan.
History
The temple was originally built in 1672, during the Qing Dynasty rule. It was then rebuilt in 1971. The temple is designated as a third grade hist ...
*
Hushan Temple
The Hushan Temple () is a temple in Huatan Township, Changhua County, Taiwan. It enshrines Guanyin Bodhisattva.
History
In 1725 during the Qianlong Emperor, the temple constructed. The temple was then built on the land of Lai Feng-kao.
See al ...
*
Lukang Longshan Temple
*
Nanyao Temple
*
Shengwang Temple
*
Yuanching Temple
*
Changhua Confucian Temple
*
List of tourist attractions in Taiwan
References
{{commons category
1724 establishments in Taiwan
Buddhist temples in Taiwan
Changhua City
Religious buildings and structures completed in 1724
Temples in Changhua County