Religious Tour

Cingshui Temple

Shimizu Ancestor is one of the famous Buddhas along Lotus Pond. Most disciples always come over to pay a visit to this temple. It is worth visiting this grand building.

A community temple of Jhouzai village, Cingshui Temple was founded during the Qing Dynasty and mainly worships Chingshui Zushi (Patriarch of Clear Water). The temple was originally situated in Banpingshan. During the Japanese Occupation, Jhouzai village was forced to relocate to make way for the defense fort. The temple was reconsturcted in 1966 and renovated in 1995 with a 50-meter tall statue.

Bei Ji Dian

Being built originally near CKS Hall (Present site) in Qing Dynasty, Bei Ji Dian enshrines Shuan Tian emperor. It was demolished during Japanese occupation time and some of the Buddha statues were moved to Chaofeng Temple at Dagangshan Moutain. However, the major buddha statue was hidden in someone’s house. After Taiwan Restoration, the major Buddha statue was found out and this temple was rebuilt in 1984.

Yuandi Temple

Being the third major sightseeing spot along Lotus Pond, Yuan Di Temple enshrines "ZHENWU EMPEROR". The high carved figure of Buddha can be seen from the distance and give people kind of feeling of holiness, solemnness, and inviolability.

Tianfu Temple

Tianfu Temple is a temple with long history. The former re-construction lasted for 7 years. In the center of the main hall, the altar General with 3- plus-meter-high golden body looks so majestic and awesome. Many Chinese couplets in two-sided walls reveal the temple’s eminent prestige. Standing here, you can view Lotus Pond in front of you: Spring and Autumn Pavilions and Dragon and Tiger pagodas at the far right, and traditional Confucius Temple at the far left. Finally, you can overlook Ban-Ping Mountain in the distance. The breathtaking view of Lotus on water is in the right in front of your eyes.

Ciming Temple

People underwent so much hardship when constructing Ciming Temple, but finally it was completed with the blessings of buddhas and supports of many disciples. This temple is often crowded with disciples. It is worth worshiping and sightseeing.

Founded in the Qing Dynasty, the temple was initially named "Mingle Temple" and mainly worshipped the Five Lords Bohisattvas. The temple was later renamed Ciming Temple and began to worship the Lord of Warriors, Guan Gong. It was rebuilt with palace-style architecture in 1973.The Lords of the Scholars and Warriors (Confucius and Guan Gong) were worshipped as the main deities. As a poetic verse describes, "Pingshan, Pagodas and Reflections," the Spring & Autumn Pagodas and the Lotus Pond in front of the temple is known as one of the top ten wonders of Taiwan.

Jen Fu She

In ancient times, people always built an Earth God temple outside the castle gate to pray for blessings before going through the castle gate. There have been many different legends about Earth God. No matter what people believe, everyone agrees that Earth God is a kind affable local God who always protects and blesses farmers. With the religion’s impact on people’s lives, Earth God has become the most popular god to worship for all industries. He even becomes so-called “God of Fortune.”

Ciji Temple

In Ciji Temple, disciples worship God emperor, who is skillful in medicine. He saved countless patients without asking for payment. People respect him as the God and built a temple to worship him after his death. Many emperors in the following dynasties even offered him some ranks of nobility. No wonder Ciji Temple can attract the avalanche of disciples.

City God Temple

Like the present law court, the duty of City God Temple is to judge right and wrong, true and false. When you get to City God Temple, several gods of ferocious judges stare at you and many instruments of torture line up before you. This ancient law court of dark-colored decoration design could make you feel solemn gloomy. However, it also acts as a place to root out the violent and to give people peace.

Introduction

Lotus Pond is surrounded by many temples; therefore, the city government has spent lots of expenses making Zuoying District a well-known religious and tourist center. More than 20 temples are constructed within 4~5 meters long Lotus Pond. It cannot be overemphasized that you can find no temple nowhere in this area.