Yuan Tong Zen Temple Introduction
Yuan Tong Zen Temple in Zhonghe District, New Taipei City, was established in the 15th year of the Republic of China and took 51 years to complete. In the 13th year of the Republic, Master Miao Qing traveled from Hsinchu to Zhonghe with the intention of establishing a temple. After two years of searching for land, she chose the current location due to its majestic view of Guanyin Mountain in Wugu. Construction began in the 15th year of the Republic with the building of the Merit Hall, followed by the laying of the foundation. Using stones from the mountain, walls were built with crushed stone and sandy soil as building materials. After decades of effort, the Main Hall was completed. Unfortunately, due to long-term exhaustion, Master Miao Qing passed away in the 44th year of the Republic at the age of 55. The second abbot, Master Da, passed away in the 65th year of the Republic. The third abbot, Master Da Jing, together with the chief committee member Master Da Sheng, planned the unfinished projects of the temple and continued construction until it was finally completed in the 66th year of the Republic, with a completion ceremony held that same year. The construction of Yuan Tong Temple took a total of 51 years and went through two generations and three abbots to complete, which is a remarkable achievement. The fourth abbot, Master Ru Hui, was ordained under Master Miao Qing in the 42nd year of the Republic. Graduating from the Chinese Buddhist Canon Academy, he enjoyed painting and calligraphy. To fulfill the wish of his master to build a scripture library for the study of Buddhism, the Yuan Tong Temple Library was completed in the 71st year of the Republic. The current abbot, Master Xing Hong, took office in the 105th year of the Republic (2016 AD). Yuan Tong Zen Temple features a purely Buddhist architectural style, utilizing stones and sandy soil from the mountain, allowing the stone temple to blend harmoniously with its surroundings while exuding a majestic presence. At the entrance of the temple, there are large stone sculptures of lions and elephants on either side, giving it a solemn atmosphere. Walking through the mountain gate and ascending the steps, visitors are greeted by the temple's grand hall. Due to the lengthy construction process, the temple incorporates various architectural styles, primarily resembling Tang Dynasty features, but with slight Japanese influences, reflecting the history and culture of Taiwan.
