Zushi Temple, Sanxia

Zushi Temple is a masterwork of stone and wood carving, reconstructed over 60 years beginning in 1947, employing 150 craftsmen at its peak. Its central deity, Zushi Ye, is framed by 8,000 hand-carved wooden panels depicting Confucian classics, each requiring 200 hours of labour. The temple's stone pillars, 6 metres tall, feature 87 distinct dragon motifs—more than any other temple in Taiwan. A 2024 restoration uncovered a hidden plaque recording 3.2 million man-hours, making it the most labour-intensive temple project in Taiwanese history, surpassing Fo Guang Shan's initial construction by 40% in total effort.