Linji Huguo Chan Temple


Linji Huguo Chan Temple is a Buddhist temple located in Zhongshan District of Taipei, Taiwan.

History

In 1900, then Japanese Governor of Taiwan Kodama Gentaro, who himself was affiliated with the same sect, requested monks from the Rinzai school to come to Taiwan, build a temple, and promote Zen Buddhism on the land nearby the newly constructed Taiwan Grand Shrine. The first abbot who also oversaw the construction was Kodama Gentaro’s university classmate, Iori Genshu, at the time of the invitation, already a well known monk in Osaka. The temple was to be named later Rinzai Gokokuzen-ji, and it was a branch temple of Rinzai Zen Buddhism in Japanese rule period. Construction of the temple started in 1900 and was completed in 1911 with the original name Chin'nanzan Gokoku-ji Temple which means that the temple was meant to help Protect the Southern Lands of the Japanese Empire. The statue of Sakyamuni was consecrated on June 21, 1912.
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

Mahavira Hall

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, Guanyin and Ksitigarbha.

Lotus Treasury Hall

Sunday Meditation & Dharma Discussion with Tea

On most Sunday mornings a more than an hour long meditation session is held starting at 8:30 am. Principally this program is only open to temple members and regular participants, however based on individual evaluation exceptions can be made on preliminary consultation and agreement by the monk in charge of this program. After the meditation session there is an hour dedicated for Dharma discussion while having tea, led by the monk in charge of the meditation class and a tea expert.