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Unlike traditional, highly structured temples, the Yizhishan Thousand Buddha Temple in Yunlin’s Gukeng Township features an asymmetrical entrance. Also, it doesn’t have your typical decorative archway. Instead, when you enter the temple, it’s like stepping into a cave. This handmade clay design sets the structure apart from the rest
Four divine beings stand tall atop lotus pedestals that adorn the roof of this temple. A pair of golden gourds flanks the main entrance, which resembles the mouth of a cave. But it isn’t a cave at all. It’s a temple crafted by hand from clay.
Irregular markings reveal its handcrafted design, as if entering a natural cave with a texture resembling waves or clouds. Located in Yunlin’s Gukeng Township, the Yizhishan Thousand Buddha Temple has unique architecture throughout the inside and exterior. Instead of resting on altars, the deities are in alcoves along the walls. The main deity in this temple is the thousand-armed Guanyin. Its rugged design wasn’t conceived by its devotees. Rather, it was meant to resemble where the Bodhisattvas practiced their faith, with their backs to the mountain and eyes to the sea. When it didn’t suit their wishes, they got a new designer.
Hsu Su-yun
Temple volunteer
Behind them is the mountain and in front is the sea. So the goddess said to make it like this, just like they were while cultivating their practice in life. Because there’s already the Cave of the 18 Arhats, we found three or four people to make it, but they couldn’t get it done. Later, the gods gave instructions through a medium. If there were any issues, they would talk directly with the gods and then continue.
Along the stairs, the walls still feature handcrafted cave-like textures leading to a shrine to the Four-Faced Buddha. It took 20 years to construct this temple, progressing only when funding allowed. Although it’s still not fully done, its unique design already compels passersby to stop and linger to take it all in.
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