The Biyun Chan Temple (traditional Chinese: 碧雲禪寺; simplified Chinese: 碧云禅寺; pinyin: Bìyún Chán Sì) was originally a century old Buddhist temple but was taken away and became a shrine for Chinese Communist Party. The former resident nun managed to regained ownership of the temple in 2019 and trying to restore the Buddhist temple. The temple is located in Ershui Township, Changhua County, Republic of China.
| Biyun Chan Temple | |
|---|---|
碧雲禪寺 | |
 | |
| Location | |
| Location | Ershui, Changhua County, Taiwan Province, Republic of China |
| Architecture | |
| Type | shrine |
| General contractor | Wei Ming-jen |
| Completed | 1920 |
| Demolished | 2018 |
| Site area | 2,500 m2 |
History
editThe century old Buddhist temple was constructed in 1920 and served as a place of worship for local Buddhist community. The temple hired Wei Ming-jen to build an expansion, but later lost the building to him due to a property rights dispute.[1][2] He forcefully expelled the Buddhist nuns residing in the temple and converted it into a shrine for the Chinese Communist Party with the name Patriotic Education Base of Socialist National Thought in Taiwan Province of the People's Republic of China.[3][4] He then covered the temple with the flags of the People's Republic of China (PRC) and the Chinese Communist Party. He also hung up portraits of Mao Zedong, Zhou Enlai and Xi Jinping.[5]
On 11 September 2018, the Cultural Affairs Bureau of Changhua County Government held a review meeting to decide on the fate of the temple. On 21 September 2018, Changhua County Magistrate Wei Ming-ku ordered that illegal additions on the property be demolished. The demolition process will start from cutting the water and electricity supply to the building on the same day. The demolition day is expected to be on 26 September 2018.[6] On 25 September 2018, around 20 people wearing the uniform of People's Liberation Army showed up at the shrine to show support for Wei. After the electricity was cut to the building, Wei used a portable generator to continue broadcasting the national anthem of the PRC.[7]
On 26 September 2018, demolition works began to tear down the building. There were 14 heavy machinery present on the day to do the work.[8] The work was supervised by Changhua County Deputy Commissioner Lin Ming-yu (Chinese: 林明裕) which he ordered to start at 10:05 a.m.[9] The demolition work costed NT$4.9 million in which it would be borne by Wei's sister who owned the rights of the property.[10] It also cost NT$300,000 for the police forces before and during the demolition works.[11]
A day after the demolition work began, Wei retreated to Hong Kong.[12] However, on 1 October 2018 evening, he returned to Taiwan to attend the National Day of the People's Republic of China held by the Patriot Alliance Association (Chinese: 愛國同心會).[13]
Architecture
editThe temple covered a total area of 2,500 m2 with the original temple remains cover only 185 m2.[6]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Chang, Tsung-chiu; Chung, Jake (22 September 2018). "Water, power to PRC temple cut". Taipei Times. Retrieved 25 September 2018.
- ^ Chen, Kuan-pei; Hsiao, Sherry (6 Jun 2019). "Nun regains ownership of Biyun Chan Temple". Taipei Times. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
- ^ DeAeth, Duncan (2 April 2018). "Buddhist temple in Taiwan defaced, turned into Chinese Communist Party shrine". Taiwan News. Retrieved 4 April 2018.
- ^ Amy Qin (2018-09-19). "Buddhist Temple, Now a Communist Shrine, Plants China's Flag in Taiwan". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2018-09-21.
- ^ Everington, Keoni (21 September 2018). "Buddhist temple continues to be desecrated as Communist Chinese shrine in western Taiwan". Taiwan News. Retrieved 23 September 2018.
- ^ a b Everington, Keoni (21 September 2018). "Power, water cut to Communist Chinese shrine in western Taiwan, demolition set for next week". Taiwan News. Retrieved 23 September 2018.
- ^ Yan, Hung-chun; Hetherington, William (25 September 2018). "Communism shrine a threat: official". Taipei Times. Retrieved 25 September 2018.
- ^ Everington, Keoni (26 September 2018). "Communist Chinese shrine in western Taiwan bites the dust". Taiwan News. Retrieved 3 October 2018.
- ^ Chen, Kuan-pei; Hetherington, William (27 September 2018). "Changhua County razes temple turned into CCP shrine". Taipei Times. Retrieved 3 October 2018.
- ^ Everington, Keoni (26 September 2018). "Communist Chinese shrine in western Taiwan smashed to smithereens". Taiwan News. Retrieved 3 October 2018.
- ^ Liu, Hsiao-hsin; Chin, Jonathan (29 September 2018). "Pro-China shrine owner to pay for demolition: county". Taipei Times. Retrieved 3 October 2018.
- ^ Everington, Keoni (1 October 2018). "Taiwanese Communist shrine creator beats hasty retreat to Hong Kong, sister stuck with NT$5 million bill". Taiwan News. Retrieved 3 October 2018.
- ^ Everington, Keoni (2 October 2018). "Communist Chinese temple builder cuts 'long march' short, back in Taiwan". Taiwan News. Retrieved 3 October 2018.