Spanish National Arrested for Vandalizing Shilin Cixian Temple

A Spanish national has been arrested in Taipei for vandalizing a historic temple by using lacquer thinner to damage a painting on its doors. The suspect, a 53-year-old artist, claimed he noticed the poor condition of the doors and decided to clean them. However, he now faces legal consequences under the Cultural Heritage Preservation Act. The temple, dedicated to the sea goddess Mazu, was founded in 1796 and the damaged artwork on the doors was painted in 1960 by artist Chen Yu-feng. Focus Taiwan – CNA English News reported

A Spanish citizen was apprehended in the early hours of Monday for allegedly causing damage to a painting on the doors of Taipei’s historic Shilin Cixian Temple by using lacquer thinner. The local police received a report around 2 a.m. regarding a potential act of vandalism at the temple, which is situated within the Shilin Night Market. Upon arriving at the scene, officers discovered an individual using lacquer thinner and degreaser to scrub the painted wooden doors, resulting in the paint smearing and turning white.

The suspect, a 53-year-old Spanish national, explained to the police that after consuming alcohol at home, he noticed the deteriorated condition of the temple doors and decided to bring supplies to clean them. Although the individual’s name has not been disclosed, he is believed to be an artist who has previously assisted in the restoration of paintings and eaves in various temples across Taiwan.

Wang Sheng-chieh, the chief of the Wenlin Police Station, stated in a press conference on Monday that the suspect had caused damage to the historic temple without any apparent reason, emphasizing the need for legal consequences. He pointed out that under Article 103 of the Cultural Heritage Preservation Act, damaging a cultural artifact carries a penalty of imprisonment ranging from six months to five years, along with a fine ranging from NT$500,000 to NT$20 million.

According to data from the Ministry of the Interior, Shilin Cixian Temple, dedicated to the sea goddess Mazu, was established in 1796 and relocated to its current location in 1864. The artwork on the vandalized temple doors was painted by Chen Yu-feng, an artist born in Tainan, in the year 1960.

(By Huang Li-yun and Matthew Mazzetta)
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