Wenwu Temple in Taiwan
No. 63, Zhongzheng Road, Yuchi Township, Nantou County. Open 24 hrs. Free.
Located on the north shore of Sun Moon Lake and facing west, this large temple is also known as Literature-Warrior Temple. Wenwu Temple was built in 1932, rebuilt in the 1960s, and then rebuilt again after a devastating 1999 earthquake. Two gigantic red stone lions act as gate guardians, and three large halls are dedicated to Kaiji--the God of Literature, Guang Gong--the God of Justice, and Confucius--the Great Teacher. Exceptionally beautiful and well kept, it features stone carvings and fountains. Lakeside in front, the “Year of Steps,” also called the "Stairway to Heaven," is a flight of 366 stairs that represent each day of the year plus one extra for leap year. This stairway leads down to the lake and was the original entrance to the temple. Today visitors can hang prayer bells on either side.
Note that custom indicates that when there are three doors at the entrance to a temple, the middle door is for the deities and nobody enters through that door. Facing the temple, you enter through the right door (the dragon’s mouth side) and exit through the left door (the tiger’s tail side).
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| entrance gate to Wenwu Temple at Sun Moon Lake in Taiwan |
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| guardian lion at Wenwu Temple at Sun Moon Lake in Taiwan |
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| view of lake from Wenwu Temple at Sun Moon Lake in Taiwan |
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| interior details at Wenwu Temple at Sun Moon Lake in Taiwan |
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| orchids in Confucius Hall at Wenwu Temple at Sun Moon Lake in Taiwan |
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| blessing dispenser machine at Wenwu Temple at Sun Moon Lake in Taiwan |
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| dispensed blessing item at Wenwu Temple at Sun Moon Lake in Taiwan |
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| offering in stone beast's mouth at Wenwu Temple at Sun Moon Lake in Taiwan |
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| prayer bells line "Stairway to Heaven" at Wenwu Temple at Sun Moon Lake in Taiwan |
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images and video ©2016 Carole Terwilliger Meyers
Absolutely love this tour you are giving us of Taiwan and its temples. Keep the posts coming!
ReplyDeleteYour comment is music to my ears. :)
DeleteBeautiful - both the temple and the lake. Did it feel as serene as it looks in the photos?
ReplyDeleteYes, it was very low-key and a great place to refresh.
DeleteHi Carole: Thx for these amazing photos of the Sun Moon Lake Temple. I'd love to visit Taiwan and the temple.
ReplyDeleteWhat beautiful photos! I've saved the great photo of the steps to the temple on my Pinterest board with stairs and steps:-)
ReplyDeleteI have very fond memories of our visit to Taiwan in 1997 when Mr. Excitement was invited to speak to the lung doctors at the military hospital by a former trainee. After showing us Taipei, they sent us on a 3 day tour of the country, including Sun Moon Lake. There was a terrible earthquake there shortly after our visit, so I am very happy to see your photos. It looks like they were able to restore the treasures.
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