Linji Huguo Chan Temple

Linji Huguo Chan Temple
Linji Huguo Chan Temple
臨濟護國禪寺
Religion
Affiliation	Buddhism,Linji school
Deity	Shakyamuni
Location
Location	Zhongshan, Taipei, Taiwan
	Shown within Taiwan
Geographic coordinates	25°04′20.88″N 121°31′14.93″E / 25.0724667°N 121.5208139°E
Architecture
Style	Chinese architecture
Founder	Meishan De'an (梅山得庵)
Date established	1911

Linji Huguo Chan Temple (Chinese: 臨濟護國禪寺; pinyin: Línjí Hùguó Chán Sì) is a Buddhist temple located in Zhongshan District of Taipei, Taiwan.^[1]

History

In 1900, then Japanese Governor of Taiwan Kodama Gentaro (兒玉源太郎) requested monks from the Rinzai school of Zen Buddhism (in Japan) to come to Taiwan, build a temple and promote Zen Buddhism in Taiwan on land nearby the newly constructed Taiwan Grand (Shinto) Shrine (台灣神社).^[2]

It was called Rinzai Gokokuzen-ji (臨済護国禅寺), which was a branch temple of Rinzai Zen Buddhism in Japanese rule period. Construction of the temple, designed by Japanese monk Umeyama Genshū (梅山玄秀), commenced in 1900 and was completed in 1911. The statue of Sakyamuni was consecrated on June 21, 1912.^[3]

In April 2007, the Taipei Municipal Government has allocated NT$18.05 million for the reconstruction project.

Temple Buildings & Architecture

The extant buildings include the Shanmen, Four Heavenly Kings Hall, Mahavira Hall, Lotus Treasury Hall, bell tower, drum tower and a pagoda.

Amitabha Hall

Outside of the Amitabha Hall and the main entrance gate in 2024, August

Inside of the Amitabha Hall during a sutra chanting ceremony in 2024, August

Mahavira Hall

The Mahavira Hall as seen from around one of its front corners in 2024

A youth group listens to a guide’s explanation and observes the bell outside of the Mahavira Hall, on a hot and rainy day, early September of 2024

Interior of the Mahavira Hall with tatami covered benches (used during Sunday meditation classes)

The Mahavira Hall was built with double-eaves gable and hip roofs. It modeled the architectural style of the Song dynasty. On each of the main ridge is a tile named "Onigawara". The Mahavira Hall houses statues of Sakyamuni (center), Guanyin (right) and Ksitigarbha (left).