Some 250 years ago a merchant on his way to another city stopped in Manka, the oldest section of Taipei. Before lying down beneath a banyan tree for a nap, he hung a religious amulet he had been wearing on a branch of the tree. Later, in his haste to reach his destiny;nation before dark, he forgot to retrieve it.
That night people passing the area saw a glow of light radiating from the tree. This happened again the next night, and the night after that. Closer inspection revealed that the amulet, with the words "Kuan Yin, Goddess of Mercy, Lungshan (Dragon Mountain) Temple" written upon it, was the source of the radiance.
Soon many people were worshipping at the tree, and some decided to build a Buddhist temple in Kuan Yin's honor there. They named it Lungshan after the inscription on the amulet.
In 1740, the 5th year of the reign of Emperor Chien Lung, Lungshan Temple became the center of religious and social activity in the old quarter of the city. Its reputation grew, spreading throughout the island; people came from all over to worship at its gates.
Top: A closeup, showing the intricate carving of a panel. Bottom: Coils of incense require special pedestals. (File photo)
The importance of the temple continued to grow and it gradually assumed many of the functions of the magistrate's office. It had its own settlement court and passed judgment not only on differences between the people of Manka but on disputes with people of other communities.
Lungshan Temple was rebuilt twice during the 19th century: once after an 1815 earthquake toppled most of its structure, and a second time after a typhoon in 1867 damaged the roof and other exposed structure.
Fifty years passed; more and more people came to worship. And the temple was beginning to show its age. The plaster on the walls was peeling, and the paint on the pillars and beams. Termites were eating away at the woodwork. It was feared that if action were not taken immediately, the temple might collapse.
A collection started by the temple's board of governors brought in substantial contributions and donated construction materials. Master craftsmen were hired from Fukien Province on the mainland to oversee redesign and reconstruction of the temple.
When work was finished in 1924, the new Lungshan Temple had become the most magnificent building in all Taiwan.
The temple prospered until the final months of World War II when the center hall, which contained an altar to Kuan Yin, was leveled by an Allied incendiary bomb. According to an eyewitness, Allied planes had been making night bombing raids on Japanese installations in the city for some time. Until the last months of the war, however, the Lungshan Temple area had not been attacked. Refugees from other less fortunate parts of the city were living in the temple. They would go into the city to work during the day and return to the temple after dusk. They slept in the rear hall, the wings, and even under Kuan Yin's altar in the main hall.
Top: Oracular blocks are held aloft to receive a message. Bottom: The temple abounds with votive offerings of candles and incense. (File photo)
On the night of June 8, 1945, at 1 a.m., Allied planes dropped an incendiary bomb directly on the main hall. The resulting fire also burned down part of the west wing.
Everything in the center hall was burnt beyond recognition, except for the statue of the goddess, miraculously untouched, except for ashes covering her face and clothing. Also, for some inexplicable reason, none of the people who usually slept in the temple had come that night; there were no casualties.
Immensely affected by these events, the people acted quickly to protect the statue of Kuan Yin, and a temporary structure was erected. But it was not until twelve years later that a committee was formed to collect money for the rebuilding of the main hall. Lungshan Temple had been considered the private property of the residents of the three oldest districts of Taipei. In 1957, however, contributions were solicited from all over the island; the reconstructed temple of today was dedicated in 1959.
Now Lungshan Temple, under the protection of the Taipei municipal government, is a national shrine and a destination for visitors from all over the globe. adapted from a BCC Voice of Free China broadcast.
The youngest Buddhist monument
The Republic of China is a country that constitutionally guarantees freedom of religious practice. Any religion or sect of religion, so long as it does not violate the decencies of good customs and proves to be beneficial to social morality, is allowed to practice freely.
As a matter of fact, in Taiwan today, other than the Taoist religion and Hsuan Yuan religion which originated in China, all other important faiths such as Buddhism, Catholicism, Protestant faiths, Islam and Baha'i are imported. Buddhism is one of the earliest religions introduced into China, arriving as early as 1 A.D. during the reign of Emperor Ping of the West Han Dynasty, about six hundred years earlier than the Christian faiths. Its influence is still the greatest, and it has the most followers.
Top: Sports provide recreational opportunity at Fo Kuang Hill. Bottom: Ready for the ritual voice of the Gong. (File photo)
On mainland China, there are three very important (and scenic) places for Buddhism-Pu T'o Isle in Chekiang Province, Omei Shan of Szechuan Province and Wu Tai Shan of Shansi Province. In Taiwan, such a center is Fo Kuan Hill, located in the southern part of the island.
Fo Kuan Hill, literally "The Hill of the Light of Buddha," is in Hsin Tien Village of Ta Su Hsiang, Kaoshiung County, about an hour's journey by car from Kaohsiung City. It is not only the largest Buddhist temple in Taiwan but is also said to be one of the largest in Southeast Asia. Its site covers 130 acres of hill side. The gigantic and magnificent temple overlooks beautiful and spacious farmland.
At the compound's entrance there is a large "Pond of Liberation," where kind-hearted people may release small captive animals, and feed them too. Before the main entrance you will see a typical Chinese building, the "Taso Shan Hui Kuan" and to the left, the "Most Merciful Chamber" where six thousand statues of Buddhisattra are placed for worship. Further to the right, you will come to the "Ta Shiung Pao Tien," or "The Most Magnificent Chamber," just completed last December. This chamber sprawls over an area of more than 3,250 square meters, and at present is the largest inner chamber in Taiwan, holding 14,800 Buddhist statues. To the right of the chamber, on the way out, you will see two rows of glittering gold statues of "The Guiding Buddha," a total of 480. The statues stretch alongside a spacious field, creating a magnificent view. Finally, near the exit is the "World of Paradise." Constructed inside a big cave, it holds 500 statues of the Disciples of Buddha, the tallest being about 120 feet high.
Fo Kuan Hill doesn't have 300 years of glorious history like the Lung Shan Temple of Taipei. It took barely fifteen years to develop to its present size. The credit for its rapid development must go to the 55-year old chief monk, Hsing Yun, who with his own faith created much of this miracle. Hsing Yun is a high monk from Chekiang Province. At the age of 12 he became cloistered. He was only 23 (in 1949) when he followed the Nationalists to Taiwan. During the past thirty years, he worked to master Buddhist religion and wandered Everywhere. Eventually, this uncommonly beautiful site caught his eye. Gaining the support of tens of thousands of believers, he was to create a temple that would become famous.
There are usually about three hundred monks and two hundred other believers living in the temple. Amongst them are highly educated men who hold doctorates and masters degrees from the United States and Japan.
Everyday at 4:30, at the break of dawn, the morning lessons begin, to be followed by the day's meditation and routine work. Some of the monks eat only one meal a day, and some others never lie down to sleep-instead they just sit in meditation. No monk is allowed to beg for alms or permitted to possess any personal property. All monks live in quiet solitude, life detached from physical and material desires.
Hsing Yun himself is not only a famous high monk but also an authority on Buddhism. He heads the Indian studies section of the University of Chinese Culture in Taipei, and is simultaneously an associate professor at Tung Hai University in Taichung.