The Sima Temple of Wuri Dongnv Cisheng Palace is dedicated to the Holy Mother of Heaven.

(Photo by reporter Lin Minzhen)

[Reporter Lin Minzhen/Taichung Report] The Dongnv Cisheng Palace (Sima Temple) in Wuri District, Taichung City is dedicated to the Holy Mother of Heaven. Unlike most temples with stone carvings on the left green dragon and right white tiger wall, it is the image of the Holy Mother of Heaven who looks at all beings with heavenly eyes. As the theme, the "Two Walls of Dragon and Tiger" created by mosaic collage was made by Chen Meihe, a teacher of the Communication Art Department of Chaoyang University of Science and Technology, over 18 months ago.

Chen Meihe said that temples are the culture of ordinary people. Some people may not go to art galleries to see art exhibitions, but they take temples as their homes. They hope to let artworks enter the public space and enhance the public's aesthetic experience.

Chen Meihe said that many years ago, artist friends Chen Linghui and Wei Guangju sorted out the history of Si Ma Temple and invited her to use her expertise to make murals for the temple. The soft artistic conception can be spread through the ages.

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Chen Meihe mentioned that she originally used frescoes, but the high-speed rail project was being constructed nearby, and the ground vibration caused the walls to bulge. In addition, Taiwan's climate is humid, and she was worried that the murals would not be preserved for a long time, so she changed to mosaic collage. Temple culture was a rare technique in Taiwan at that time.

Chen Meihe explained that "Dragon Blocking the Wall" is based on Mazu's gesture of turning the sky and the earth, gradually turning into a lotus finger, and then matching with Mazu's favorite green lotus and magnolia flowers, which are budding, half-opened and blooming, to show Buddha, The process of learning and enlightening Buddha, as well as the meaning of time and space in the present, past and future, are set against the scene where abstract figures are the patron saints and gods practicing in the purple bamboo forest.

"Tiger Wall" uses the Holy Mother's miraculous sedan chair to meditate in a circle of calligraphy and painting, with the theme of exotic flowers and fruits in the sky. The reflection of seaweed-like plants is a metaphor for sea water, and there are mythical beasts and spiritual fish swimming in it, symbolizing the medicine used by the sea god Mazu to save the world. with plants.

The "Dragon Wall" of Wu Ri Dong Nv Cisheng Palace uses Mazu gestures to turn the sky and the earth, gradually turning into lotus fingers, and matching green lotus and magnolia flowers in bud, half-open and blooming, expressing Buddhahood, Buddhahood and enlightenment Buddha process.

(Photo by reporter Lin Minzhen)

The "Tiger Wall" of Wu Ri Dong Nv Cisheng Palace features the Holy Mother's palanquin with calligraphy and paintings in meditation, together with the strange flowers and fruits in the sky, and the reflection of seaweed-like plants to imply the sea water, and there are mythical beasts and spiritual fish swimming in it.

(Photo by reporter Lin Minzhen)

Chen Meihe (first from the right), a teacher of the Department of Communication Arts, Chaoyang University of Science and Technology, created the "Two Walls of Dragon and Tiger" for the mosaic collage of Wuridong Nvcisheng Palace.

(Provided by Chen Meihe)