開化寺歷史 History

開化寺是雍正二年（1724年）由首任彰化縣知縣談經正建造。因乃彰化設縣後第二年動工興建，有「開彰第一寺院」之稱。

The Kaihua Temple, also known as The Guan Yin Ting in the center of Changhua, was built in 1724 AD (during the 2nd year of Qing Yongzheng)

乾隆十八年（1753年）重修，後因乾隆時期的陳周全抗清，此寺被作為抗清指揮重地而損毀。

道光二十年（1840年）重建，並鐫石銘記於廟右隴石。

咸豐十年（1860年）再毀於火災。

日治時期，山川門因道路拓寬而拆除，改於北側築一門樓。

1945年因受盟軍轟炸而受損，戰後時期乃由施能達、黃妙火等人倡議重修，至1946年6月19日完成重修工程。

戰後初期，彰化市公所接管了十五間當時沒有管理委員會或管理人的寺廟，包括開化寺等古蹟。

1968年開化寺重修正殿神龕彩繪。

開化寺俗稱觀音閣，是彰化最古老的佛寺。 被譽為"彰化第一寺"。 主要供奉的是觀音菩薩。 1723年彰化建縣，次年建寺。 後稱開化，意為彰化第一座佛寺。 這座寺廟過去曾被地震和火災摧毀，經過多次翻修。 幸運的是，當地人主張籌集資金重建它。 這座寺廟是一座佛樓，三開間，兩個入口，兩個有蓋的廊子。 它坐北朝東，面朝南西。 為了拓寬毗鄰的道路，前殿曾被拆除，之後豎立了一個特殊的大門。 青石獅子頭溫潤細膩，雕刻技藝精湛。 它們是台灣早期最好的石雕作品之一。

It is commonly called the Guanyin Pavilion, and is the oldest Buddha temple in Changhua. It is acclaimed to be 「The first temple of Changhua」. The main worship is Guanyin Buddha. Changhua became a county in 1723 and this temple was built the year after. It was then known as Kaihua meaning the opening the first Buddha temple in Changhua. Having been destroyed by earthquakes and fire in the past, the temple has been through several renovations. Luckily, local people advocated collecting money to rebuild it. This temple is a Buddha building with three bays, two entrances and two covered porches. It sits east-north and faces west-south. The front hall was once pulled down in order to broaden the adjoining road, after which a special gate was erected. The green stone lions heads are gentle and fine, and the carving technique is superb. They are one of the best stone carving work of early Taiwan.