Taiwan’s tallest God of Wealth statue has been in the process of getting a makeover since the beginning of this year. This week, they were finally able to add the finishing touches.
Temple officials in Caotun Township’s Dunhe Temple had to brave a long ride up in a cherry picker to consecrate their newly renovated statue of the God of Wealth. When an auspicious day finally arrived, they went up nearly 70 meters to perform the eye-opening ceremony.
This statue, which is currently the tallest bronze effigy of the God of Wealth in the world, had weathered more than two decades of wind and rain and was in need of a good polish. The statue itself is 50 meters tall, but as it is affixed atop the 18-meter tall temple, this puts Master He and his assistant pretty high in the sky. At that height, and on such a small platform, they found themselves shaking precariously in the breeze.
Master He’s grandfather Master Huang reminisced about when he first performed the eye-opening ceremony for this huge statue nearly 25 years ago. Now aged 83, he was more than happy to hand this monumental task over to his grandson.
Hanna Bilinski for RTI News