Travel Date: 2023/07/16
We were staying in Yunlin for the weekend, but early Sunday morning, my parents-in-law had to go somewhere, so we decided to head back home as well. However, I had the idea to make a stop in Changhua to revisit two temples we had explored a few years ago: the Shell Temple and the Glass Temple. Fortunately, they were located close to each other, just a few minutes' drive away.
It's not our first time in this place. We visited the temple 4 years ago.
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We reached the Shell Temple first. Initially, the small road leading to the temple was easy to overlook. Once we arrived, we noticed a cemetery nearby, and the parking area was right there. From the outside, the temple might not seem very attractive, but its interior was quite impressive. It felt like nothing had changed since the last time we were here, except that on that previous visit, we were accompanied by friends who no longer live in Taiwan. Over the past two years, some of our friends had moved away, and later, I myself moved 200km away, leaving me with only one friend. So, once again, I find myself as the lonely girl, haha.
The weather this time was really good, allowing me to take better pictures of the surroundings. Inside the temple, everything remained the same - there was a peaceful pond with fish and a shop selling shells and decorations made from them. Except for us, there were no other visitors (just like last time), making it seem like a rather unpopular place.
Sanqing Sanyuan Palace Shell Temple (三清三元宫贝壳庙)
Sanqing Sanyuan Palace Shell Temple was built by Huang Qichun, who was born into a poor family. He attended school in the countryside for one year but dropped out at the age of 12 to work as a laborer. At 16, he became an apprentice in an ironworks and learned the skill of making kitchen knives. After his unsuccessful entrepreneurial ventures, he started selling vegetables in Taipei.
In the 1970s, Huang bought land near the Xiucuo Public Cemetery in Fuxing Township, Taiwan, to raise tropical fish. Despite warnings from friends about the unfavorable feng shui of the land, he persisted and reclaimed the land with his wife, Huang Lixiao.
Huang Qichun often dreamed of spiritual phenomena after moving to this place. He dreamt of a stone-covered temple adorned with shells and similar decorations. Inspired by the dreams, he decided to build a temple on the remaining land after the fishponds were constructed.
Huang collected various seashells like conch, snail, and abalone, as well as stones from Sihou Li in Hengchun Town. He skillfully arranged the shells and stones using iron wires, pouring cement over them to create the unique temple design. Huang personally worked on the temple's walls, gates, and fences, embedding them with seashells. The walls, except for the pillars, roofs, and entrance gates, were all handmade and decorated with shells.
Local villagers were initially surprised by Huang's temple construction, but they eventually got used to it. They called him "Guai Chun" (strange Chun) and referred to the temple as the "Beikemo Temple." Despite facing challenges due to the agricultural and fish farming nature of the land, Huang continued his temple construction, and by 1996, the temple was mostly completed.
As Huang Qichun's son grew older, he also helped with farming, allowing his father more time to focus on building the temple, which was eventually completed in late January 1997.
The temple features a square-shaped structure with a decorative roof depicting dragons and phoenixes. Inside, there are various sections, including the main hall, dragon palace tunnel, tropical fish farming area, and an art section. Inside the temple, various seashell artworks, including miniature models of Lukang Mazu Temple and Kirin, are displayed. One notable piece is a 2-meter tall, 3-meter long "Millennium Seashell Dragon," created to celebrate the Millennium Dragon Year.
Due to the land being a farmland, it was impossible to obtain temple registration.
By 2001, the temple has gained fame, attracting many visitors, and Huang often volunteered to guide large tour buses that arrived at the limited parking space near the temple.
See also: Fufudingshan Shell Temple
See also: Glass Mazu Temple
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