The Great Earthquake at Pu An Tang on Tucheng Mountain—A Catastrophe for Taiwanese Culture

P1490483 — Pu'an Hall on Tucheng Mountain Reduced to Rubble - A Cultural Earthquake

P1490485 — The Earthquake at Pu'an Hall on Tucheng Mountain - A Catastrophe for Taiwanese Culture

P1490501 — Taiwan's First Zhai Temple, Now in Ruins, Mockingly Called the 'Dunhuang Relics'

P1490484 — Pu'an Hall on Tucheng Mountain Reduced to Rubble - A Cultural Earthquake

P1490550 — This is what I personally witnessed on March 5th, accompanied by Teacher Li Changjun and his wife.

P1490507 — A Cultural Tragedy Under Post-Colonialism and Government-Commercial Collusion

P1490547 — Taiwan's First Zhai Temple, Now in Ruins

P1490545 — Rongtai and Changjun have been entangled in litigation for over a decade - Thank you for your hard work

P1490537 — The Dharma Protector Bodhisattva - Even facing this catastrophe seems beyond salvation

Text and images by Chen Chi-Hsiang. The great earthquake at Pu An Tang on Tucheng Mountain has left it unrecognizable. Taiwan’s tangible and intangible cultural assets continue to crumble. Facing this catastrophe of leveled heritage, where does Taiwanese culture go? Pu An Tang is a glaring example: a tragedy born of post-colonialism and collusion between government and business. Taiwan’s first zhai temple has become ruins, mockingly called “Dunhuang.” Is this not a major cultural earthquake? Are we cultural workers truly unmoved? Damn it!

With the new government about to take office, preserving all of Taiwan’s tangible and intangible cultural relics and assets is essential so that we do not lose our way in recreating our cultural value. Grassroots culture must be implemented. We must rectify and reflect upon the assets exaggeratedly shaken up. Only then can the release of local creative energy soothe Taiwan’s ancestors and pave the way for our future. The future is in our hands. Sincere blessings.

The decades-long lawsuit over Pu An Tang has been exhausting for Rongtai and Changjun, who have had ambitions but no legal recourse. For cultural workers, this is a significant loss for Taiwanese culture.