Sanching Temple, Yilan道教总庙三清宫（宜兰梅花湖）

Type: Temples and Abbeys (Gongguan)
Location: Taiwan, China · Taiwan · Dongshan Township, Yilan County · No. 123 Sanqing Road, De'an Village, at the foot of the hills beside Meihua Lake, about seven kilometers from Luodong
Coordinates: 24.639, 121.7313 Map ↗
School: Daoism in Taiwan
First built: Groundbreaking on August 25, 1970 · Designated the "National Grand Temple of Taoism of the Republic of China" by resolution of the board of directors of the Taoism Society of the Republic of China on January 20, 1971; no authoritative record of its completion year has been found. Its coordinates are attested by only a single source and should be verified

Overview

Sanching Temple is located at the foot of the hills beside Meihua Lake in Dongshan Township, Yilan County, and is dedicated primarily to the Three Pure Ones (the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning, the Celestial Worthy of Numinous Treasure, and the Celestial Worthy of Dao and De). A construction committee was formed on June 14, 1970, planned by former Yilan County Magistrate Chen Jindong and Bai Tuyan; the groundbreaking was presided over on August 25 of the same year by Chen Xianzhou, chairman of the Taoism Society of the Republic of China; on January 20, 1971, the society's board of directors resolved to designate it the "National Grand Temple of Taoism of the Republic of China," serving as a liaison center for Daoist organizations. Covering an area of about 4.18 hectares, it is built in the Northern-style palace form, with a Ling Guan Hall, a Sanqing Hall, and a Miluo Hall, set against the hillside and facing the lake, commanding a view over Meihua Lake and the Lanyang Plain. The temple follows purely Daoist ritual practice, worships no deities of other religions, and does not burn paper money, and it has proclaimed the founding principles of "orthodox faith, a scenic environment, and enterprise-style management"; as of 2023 it had conducted forty-three sessions of ordination for over 3,800 people. Few Taiwanese temples are dedicated primarily to the Three Pure Ones — popular temples more commonly worship the Jade Emperor, Wangye, or Mazu — so this temple carries significance as a declaration of doctrinal orthodoxy.

Highlights

The National Grand Temple of Taoism of the Republic of China
Dedicated primarily to the Three Pure Ones
Worships no deities of other religions and does not burn paper money
Forty-three sessions of ordination conducted

References