Wen Kai Academy

Three buildings of Wu Temple, Wenchang Temple, and Wen Kai Academy line up and connect together. In the 4th year of Emperor Daoguang in Qing Dynasty (1824), Lukang Coast Defense Officer Chuan-an Deng suggested to build the academy and received response from Lukang’s eight trade associations from Quan-Xia by making donations. Until the 7th year of Emperor Daoguang (1827), the construction was finished and given the name of “Wen Kai Academy” in the memory of Scholar Shen, Guang-Wen at the end of Ming Dynasty. Shen, Guang-Wen had an alternative name of “Wen-Kai.”

On December 9th, 1975, the academy encountered a fire accident. The fire damaged the main hall and back hall; Wenchang Temple was also affected. The academy once felt into disuse. In 1985, it was appointed as the third-class historic site; Han Kwang Architects took charge of the renovating works and recovered Wen Kai Academy’s architectural style. During the 921 Earthquake in 1999, Wen Kai Academy was damaged again. The renovation work took several years and finally finished in 2005.

Wen Temple & Wu Temple

Lukang Wen Temple is Wenchang Temple; it is adjacent to Wen Kai Academy. In the 16th year of Emperor Jiaqing in Qing Dynasty (1811), Lukang Coast Defense Officer Xue, Zhi-Liang contributed his salary to build Wen Temple and Wu Temple. Local gentry Chen, Shi-Tao took charge of the building of Wenchang Temple and Su, Yun managed the building of Wu Temple.

Wenchang Temple enshrines Wuchang Dijun and Wu Temple enshrines Guan-Sheng-Dijun. Lukang scholars once formed “Ba-She” in Wenchang Temple, becoming the earliest free school and poem society in Lukang’s early periods.

After restoration, Wen Temple and Wu Temple became military camp for garrisons. In 1975, Wen Temple encountered a fire accident and the structure was damaged. In 1985, the structure was renovated in accordance with its original appearance by the national government. During the 921 Earthquake, Wen Kai Academy, Wen Temple, and Wu Temple were damaged again. The repairing works were carried out in 2002 again and finished in 2005.

Wenchang Temple is the building of two structures and one yard. There is a pond called Pan-Chi in the front. In old days, for passing the civil examination our forefathers had to offer sacrifices to the God in Wenchang Temple; followed ancient rites, they picked parsley leaf beside Pan-Chi and put it at the edge of their hats. Thus, people, who passed civil exam and became Xiu-Cai, were also called “Ru-Pan.”
There are two epigraph in Sanchuan Hall, which are “Epigraph for the renovation of both Wen and Wu Temples” from the 24th year of Emperor Jiaqing in Qing Dynasty (1819) and “Epigraph for the renovation of Wen Temple” from the 8th year of Emperor Guangxu in Qing Dynasty (1869). Both are important literature source of Wenchang Temple and Wu Temple. There is a well called “Hu-Jing” in-between Wen Temple and Wu Temple; the water in the well is sweet and refreshing and is apprai.