Zhishan Yan Huiji Temple

At the foot of Huiji Temple's mountain, you can see a plaza resembling a grassland, adorned with sheep models, as if ancient settlers grazed their flocks here. Following the stairs upwards, through the woods, a dim atmosphere pervades, with moss growing on the adjacent rock walls, exuding an ancient charm. Along the way, you pass a stone archway, a historical relic of Zhishan. After passing it, you'll find the path widens considerably. Rounding a bend, the view suddenly opens up to a flat road, completely different from the previous ambiance. Huiji Temple is nestled within this landscape. When people from Zhangzhou came to Shilin, they also brought their guardian deity, the 'Sacred King Kaizhang' (Founder of Zhangzhou). Legend has it that Zhishan was originally the land of the wealthy magnate Huang Shan. About two hundred years ago, his relative Huang Cheng-qing from Pinghe County, Zhangzhou Prefecture, brought the incense of the Sacred King Kaizhang to Taiwan and hung it on Zhishan. Miracles were said to appear, so everyone pooled their money and built Huiji Temple in 1752. Soon after, due to the worship of Guanyin Bodhisattva, it also became known as Zhishan Yan Temple. In 1840, Pan Yong-qing, a gentry from Shilin, established the Wenchang Shrine on Zhishan Yan and hired teachers to educate local children. By 1874, the three temples were merged and have since been collectively known as Huiji Temple. Currently, most visitors come to Huiji Temple to pray for success in exams, as there is a Wenchang Brush here. Legend says that touching the 'Wenchang Brush' brings blessings, so parents often bring their children to touch it, hoping for smooth sailing in their exams.