Expedition Overview
In March of 2016, CyArk partnered with the China University of Technology (CUTe) and the Taiwanese Bureau of Cultural Heritage to digitally document the Lukang Longshan Temple in Changhua, Taiwan. CyArk employed the latest data capture technologies to document the entire complex, including the four principal buildings and connecting courtyards. As part of this expedition, CyArk also trained students from the Center for Cultural Sites Rehabilitation and Development program at CUTe on digital documentation techniques. The data generated through the documentation efforts complements existing historical documentation of the site and advances the capability of site managers for planning future preservation efforts.
Introducing the Lukang Longshan Temple
The Lukang Longshan Temple is the largest temple in the Township of Lukang and is one of the most revered Buddhist temples in Taiwan. Originally built in the 17th century near the historic port canal, the temple was moved to its present site in 1786. Recognized as an important national heritage site by the Taiwanese Ministry of Culture, the 9,600 square foot complex consists of four main structures: the Main Gate, Hall of the Five Gates, Main Hall, and Rear hall along with two enclosed yards. The temple houses a shrine to the Bodhisattva Guanyin, goddess of mercy and compassion, and remains a popular place of worship for Mahayana Buddhists. The temple is also known for containing a myriad of impressive architectural features including painted murals, woodcarvings, and the largest caisson or spiderweb wooden ceiling in Taiwan.
Flyover Animation of the Lukang Longshan Temple by CyArkCyArk
Spider Web Ceiling
The Lukang Longshan Temple is particularly renowned for the craftsmanship displayed on its caisson ceiling, the oldest and largest in Taiwan. A caisson, otherwise known as a spider web ceiling, is a sunken ceiling panel typically located in the center of East Asian temples or palaces. At the Lukang Longshan temple the Caisson ceiling was constructed without nails and is held together by decorated interlocking wooden brackets, known as dougongs. The center of the caisson features a colorful painting of a dragon, a common theme for this architectural feature. Considered effective in the warding off of evil, these ceilings are also acoustic marvels, amplifying and enhancing the sound of the stage performances.
Open Heritage 3D by CyArkCyArk
Data from this project is now freely available through Open Heritage 3D.
Download the data from this project.
About Open Heritage 3D
The mission of the Open Heritage 3D project is to:
● Provide open access to 3D cultural heritage datasets for education, research and other
non-commercial uses.
● Minimize the technical, financial and legal barriers for publishers of 3D heritage data.
● Promote discovery and re-use of datasets through standardized metadata and data formats.
● Foster community collaboration and knowledge sharing in the 3D cultural heritage community.
● Share best practices and methodologies for the capture, processing and storage of 3D cultural heritage data
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This project was made possible through the generous support of Iron Mountain and the following partners:
Ministry of Culture, Republic of China (Taiwan)
China University of Technology (CUTe)
