Shifang Dajue Temple Introduction
Shifang Dajue Temple is located at the top of a hillside on Chongde Road in Anle District, covering a spacious area with a broad view that overlooks the scenery of Keelung Harbor. Built into the mountain, Shifang Dajue Temple presents an imposing and majestic appearance, while retaining the ancient Chinese garden style, creating an elegant and serene environment that is quite rare in a bustling modern metropolis, which makes it even more special. Surrounding the courtyard are numerous halls, with the statues of the Four Heavenly Kings in the Hall of Heavenly Kings being particularly impressive; their tall and mighty figures command awe and respect. In the back courtyard, there is the Mahavira Hall, and by continuing along the path, one can reach a Guanyin Pavilion on the back mountain, which enshrines the Thousand-Handed and Thousand-Eyed Guanyin, exuding a solemn and benevolent demeanor. It is a very tranquil and solemn Buddhist sacred site. Additionally, there are other temple structures such as the Sutra Repository and the Five Observances Hall, which collectively create a atmosphere of solemnity and harmony, making visitors feel as though they are in the pure land of Buddhism, giving them a profound sense of peace and cleansing of body and spirit. Behind the temple is the Patriarch Hall, which houses the relics of Master Xu Yun, beside which stands a seven-story pagoda, providing a view of the entire cityscape from its height. According to records, in the 43rd year of the Republic of China, the itinerant monk Master Weiding vowed to build a temple on the ridge of Chongde Road in Yongkang Village and invited the renowned monk Master Lingyuan from Zhejiang to preside over the temple. At that time, most of the Zhejiang-based sailors lived in Keelung, and due to the treacherous seas, they sincerely prayed to Buddha before setting sail or returning to port, thus the incense at Dajue Temple began to flourish, and donations gradually increased, allowing for rapid and large-scale expansion of the temple. Later, in the 48th year of the Republic of China, the construction of the seven-tier Anle Pagoda began, with the main hall situated centrally, the Ksitigarbha Hall at the back, the Great Compassion Hall to the left, and the Dajue Buddhist Hall and Speaking Hall in the front, along with upper and lower levels of the Hall of Heavenly Kings, making it a grand establishment. Shifang Dajue Temple is a significant place for the foundation of Zen Buddhism in Taiwan, with its solemn and ancient exterior, the solemn sounds of morning bells and evening drums resonating throughout, and the mountain and water scenery of Keelung Harbor, making "Dajue Brahman Sounds" one of the eight scenic spots of Keelung.
Close-up of Shifang Dajue Temple
Aerial view of Shifang Dajue Temple
