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A touch of Taiwan takes over a temple
By Zhang Qian |
00:00 UTC+8 June 12, 2009
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FOUNDED on the site of the Manao Temple, the Lien Heng Memorial Hall offers a taste of Taiwanese culture on the West Lake. Zhang Qian strolls through history. Apart from the traditional Jiangnan (region in the south of the lower reaches of Yangtze River) culture, visitors can also find Taiwanese culture at the West Lake. The Lien Heng Memorial Hall in north West Lake provides a general view of culture from across the strait.
The Lien Heng Memorial Hall is founded on the site of the Manao (agate) Temple on Geling Road. The temple was first built in 946 AD on Gushan Mountain in the northwest of West Lake, and moved to its present location in 1152 in the Song Dynasty (960-1279). The temple was destroyed and rebuilt several times throughout the years. The present museum which covers 15,000 square meters is set on the ruins of a temple from the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).
Though the major hall of the temple was completely destroyed in a fire, the gate, side-rooms and garden were preserved. The setting, pavilions, corridors, winding paths and lotus pond were rebuilt in 2004 according to the original design. An ancient camphor tree in the garden has been witnessing changes here for 1,600 years.
Apart from being a historical Buddhist site, the temple also played a role connecting the culture of Taiwan and Chinese mainland.
Lien Heng (1878-1936), the author of "Taiwan Tongshi" ("The General History of Taiwan"), who was also former Kuomingtang chairman Lien Chan's grandfather, used to live and collect historical materials in the Manao Temple from 1926-1927. Lien Chan visited the temple in 2006 during his first visit to Zhejiang Province and told the story of his grandfather and the temple.
Lien Heng, the Taiwanese poet, linguist and historian, devoted himself to the creation of a distinct Taiwanese culture.
To him, the Taiwanese culture was not merely an extension of the local Minnan (southern Fujian Province) culture, but rather a diverse and distinct one that was compatible with China's main cultural stream of the Zhongyuan (Central Plains) culture. He collected a great number of original materials during his first visit to Chinese mainland at 35, and completed the three-volume general history of Taiwan in 1918. This was published in 1920 and 1921. Even when he finished the work, he kept searching for historical documents to make sure his work was complete.
The temple completed its transformation from temple to the Lien Heng Memorial Hall and was opened to the public last year. Lien Chan participated in the opening along with his wife, and suggested the museum become a platform for cultural communication between Taiwan and Chinese mainland.
The site of the original hall is left the way it was, with over 20 drum-like ruins of the original pillars scattered on the ground. The eight side-rooms, five in the west and three in the east, have been turned into exhibition rooms of Taiwanese history and culture. They show the natural environment, historical culture, boong culture, the story of Lien Heng, important people, traditional arts and crafts, and modern arts and crafts.
Rock samples in the Natural Environment Hall tell the story of the island's formation; waxworks and costumes and tools bring Taiwan boong life to life for the visitors. In another hall exhibits provide a picture and list of the important figures who have contributed to the culture, education and construction of Taiwan after the 17th century.
Address: 17 Geling Rd
Tel: (0571) 8796-5695
Hours: 8:30am-4:30pm
Transport: Buses No. Y1, Y2, Y3, K7, Y9, K27, K81
The Lien Heng Memorial Hall is founded on the site of the Manao (agate) Temple on Geling Road. The temple was first built in 946 AD on Gushan Mountain in the northwest of West Lake, and moved to its present location in 1152 in the Song Dynasty (960-1279). The temple was destroyed and rebuilt several times throughout the years. The present museum which covers 15,000 square meters is set on the ruins of a temple from the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).
Though the major hall of the temple was completely destroyed in a fire, the gate, side-rooms and garden were preserved. The setting, pavilions, corridors, winding paths and lotus pond were rebuilt in 2004 according to the original design. An ancient camphor tree in the garden has been witnessing changes here for 1,600 years.
Apart from being a historical Buddhist site, the temple also played a role connecting the culture of Taiwan and Chinese mainland.
Lien Heng (1878-1936), the author of "Taiwan Tongshi" ("The General History of Taiwan"), who was also former Kuomingtang chairman Lien Chan's grandfather, used to live and collect historical materials in the Manao Temple from 1926-1927. Lien Chan visited the temple in 2006 during his first visit to Zhejiang Province and told the story of his grandfather and the temple.
Lien Heng, the Taiwanese poet, linguist and historian, devoted himself to the creation of a distinct Taiwanese culture.
To him, the Taiwanese culture was not merely an extension of the local Minnan (southern Fujian Province) culture, but rather a diverse and distinct one that was compatible with China's main cultural stream of the Zhongyuan (Central Plains) culture. He collected a great number of original materials during his first visit to Chinese mainland at 35, and completed the three-volume general history of Taiwan in 1918. This was published in 1920 and 1921. Even when he finished the work, he kept searching for historical documents to make sure his work was complete.
The temple completed its transformation from temple to the Lien Heng Memorial Hall and was opened to the public last year. Lien Chan participated in the opening along with his wife, and suggested the museum become a platform for cultural communication between Taiwan and Chinese mainland.
The site of the original hall is left the way it was, with over 20 drum-like ruins of the original pillars scattered on the ground. The eight side-rooms, five in the west and three in the east, have been turned into exhibition rooms of Taiwanese history and culture. They show the natural environment, historical culture, boong culture, the story of Lien Heng, important people, traditional arts and crafts, and modern arts and crafts.
Rock samples in the Natural Environment Hall tell the story of the island's formation; waxworks and costumes and tools bring Taiwan boong life to life for the visitors. In another hall exhibits provide a picture and list of the important figures who have contributed to the culture, education and construction of Taiwan after the 17th century.
Address: 17 Geling Rd
Tel: (0571) 8796-5695
Hours: 8:30am-4:30pm
Transport: Buses No. Y1, Y2, Y3, K7, Y9, K27, K81
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