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Wanchin Basilica of the Immaculate Conception
(Wanluan Township, Taiwan, Republic of China)
With a good group of Christians in the Village, Father. Sainz decided to build a simple Church. In May 1863, he spent sixty yuan to purchase the land in order to build the simple mud church for the mission. Two years later, on October 13, 1865, the church was destroyed by an earthquake. Since the original church was also too small for the growing number of Christians, Father. Sainz and the people decided to build a bigger and stronger church.
With financial help from the Dominican Fathers and generous contributions from the faithful, enough money was collected to build a new church. Because the property was too small for this purpose by the end of October, 1869, Father Francisco Herce purchased some hectares of land to amplify the church grounds and for the use of the Christians. Father. Herce, who was living in Kaohsiung, sent Liu Ah Chang, a trusted and able catechist to supervise the construction of the mission church.
Due to the past experiences with the neighboring settlers, it was decided that the church adopt the style of a Spanish fortress-castle. This can be seen in the church's new dimensions: 45 feet wide, 116 feet long, 25 feet high and with walls five feet thick, using the best materials for the construction available then, such as honey, lime and eggs. This enabled the church building to be used as a refuge and shelter to the Christians in times of natural calamities or from attacks by enemies. This special feature of the church edifice makes it one of the special architectural and historical monuments of Pintung County.
Other materials used in building the church were imported from mainland China. The beams of hardwood and fire bricks were tied together on rafts and carried along the sea to piers of Tung Kang and from there, by oxcart, transported to Wanchin.
Most of the masons, carpenters and artisans were also from Fuzhou and some from Xiamen. They left their subtle artistry in the church structure and the intricate altars and palanquins of the church. The total cost of the church was about 299 yuan for the lime, 200 yuan fro the wood and 300 yuan for the bricks. Religious vessels, vestments for church use as well as religious image which adorned the main altar were ordered by the missionaries either from Manila or from Europe.
On December 8, 1870, the church was finally inaugurated and placed under the patronage of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Sometime later, the house of the missionaries and the catechists was built. In 1872, Father. Herce bought some more lands to provide a decent means of livelihood for the mission and the Christians. This property was to become the nucleus of the village of Wanchin.
Imperial Protection
During the tour of duty to southern Taiwan the Qing Court official Shen Pao Chen passed by Wanchin and began to be interested in the work of the Catholic Church in that village. He was deeply moved by the people's simple and happy lives and the way the missionary, Fr. Francisco Herce, OP wore Chinese apparel and was fluent in the Fukien dialect while taking care of these people with enthusiasm. He was informed of the constant harassment made by the neighboring Hakkas against them, and he personally wrote a report to the Qing Court asking the imperial protection for the people of Wanchin in the mission.
In 1874, the Qing Imperial Government promulgated an edict thereby placing the Catholic church of Wanchin under imperial protection. Two granite tablets each bearing the inscriptions"On Imperial Orders" and "Catholic Church" were sent to the Catholic mission. On January 12, 1875, these tablets were inlaid in the facade of the church. This was a singular privilege and honor for the Catholics. From then on, every imperial soldier passing by Wanchin church had to dismount from his horse as a sign of respect.
In spite of Imperial orders, the hostility of the Hakkas towards the Christians did not change. Numerous clashes between the dwellers of the two villages continued sporadically for many years.
In August 17, 1985, the same year when Taiwan was transferred to Japanese Rule, the most violent skirmish occurred between the Hakkas and the Wanchin Catholics. The Wanchin villagers were on the losing side, beset with difficulties with a depleting food supply. Many were desperate and were waiting to be massacred. Fortunately, the Japanese army arrived and drove the enemies away. The conflict between the Hakkas and the Catholics then ceased to exist.
Under the Japanese Rule
During the Japanese colonial rule, the mission remained calm and grew steadily. In 1942, at the height of the Pacific War, Japanese troops occupied the church and used it as military headquarters. Foxholes, defense trenches, ammunition depots and granaries were built around the church property. Only the missionary was able to have limited freedom to move around and minister to the needs of the Catholics. At the end of the Pacific War, Wanchin was heavily bombed by the Allied troops, but miraculously the church was not damaged.
Restorations
Restorations were made on the church in the 50s and the 60s by different missionaries who worked in Wanchin due to the repairs needed by the old building and the guidelines set by the liturgical reform of the Second Vatican Council. The latest restoration was made in the 80s to bring back the simple architectural lines of the church was made in consonance to the functionality and solemnity of the Christian worship. In May, 1999 it was planed to make a new restoration sponsored and paid for the Pingtung government.
Wanchin Basilica
On December 9, 1984, Pope John Paul II bestowed on the Wanchin church, the title of Basilica. It is the first church in Taiwan to be given this singular privilege. According to the tradition of the Catholic Church, the term "Basilica" is an honorary title given to a church for its religious, historic and artistic significance in the locality. It enjoys the privilege of bearing the Papal coat of arms at the facade of the church and special blessings are given to those who visit it.
National Monument
In recognition of his historical value, the Ministry of Interior declared this church a national monument with a third-class rank, making it a cultural legacy of Pingtung County.
National Shrine
In 1985, the late Bishop of Kaohsiung, Msgr. Joseph Cheng Tien Hsiang designated Wanchin as a pilgrimage shrine and the National Bishops' Conference promulgated it as a national shrine. It has become a favorite place of Marian devotion and spiritual renewal in the Taiwan Church. Pilgrimages are organized especially during the months of May and October. On the Sunday nearest to the feast of the Immaculate Conception (December 8), Catholics all over the island converge at the Basilica to pay homage to the Blessed Virgin, celebrating the patron feast with the Catholics of the village.
Residence and Activity Center
In 1991, the Immaculate Conception Dominican residence was inaugurated. This beautiful building, designed according to Spanish colonial architectural lines, is the residence of the Dominican community serving the Wanchin Basilica as well the Dominican mission stations among the Paiwan aborigines in the hinterlands.
The two-story Activity Center, also following the aesthetic lines of the Dominican Residence in front of it, was blessed and inaugurated in 1994. This building not only houses the parochial offices but also serves as a pilgrimage house, a center formation of lay apostles, meeting place for various religious organizations. It also has five conference rooms and a dining hall.
Recently a nice Chinese stile garden was added with a grotto in the middle, as well a new basketball court and a new and big altar for the open air celebrations, especially on the feast of the Immaculate Conception when more than ten thousand pilgrims arrive to participate in the celebrations.
This historic church, the two buildings, the Chinese garden with the Grotto, the sprawling grass covered grounds of palms and fruit trees around the property, make up the beautiful complex of the Wanchin Basilica.
Source: The Mary Page - http://campus.udayton.edu/mary/resources/shrines/China/Taiwan-OL-Wanchin.html
Source: The Mary Page - http://campus.udayton.edu/mary/resources/shrines/China/Taiwan-OL-Wanchin.html
Festivals and Events
Every year on the Sunday before December 8 a grand march in honor of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary rocks a small town in the remote southern tip of Taiwan, drawing hundreds and thousands of pious pilgrims and visitors from around the world.
This annual patron saint's celebration is a proud recognition of the oldest Catholic Church in Taiwan, Wanchin Basilica of the Immaculate Conception. Located in Wanchin, a small town in southern Pingtung County, the history of the church can be traced back as early as 1863.
Basic Information
Note: This information was accurate when first published and we do our best to keep it updated, but details such as opening hours can change without notice. To avoid disappointment, please check with the site directly before making a special trip.
