Zhinan Temple Introduction
Zhinan Temple is located at No. 115, Wanshou Road, Wenshan District, Taipei City, at the foot of Mount Zhinan in Muzha, with an elevation of 285 meters. It was founded in the 16th year of the Guangxu era of the Qing Dynasty (1890) and was established by Wang Binlin, the magistrate of Tamsui, who brought the spirit of the Yongle Palace from Shanxi to Taiwan. The temple area covers several dozen hectares, filled with ancient trees that provide deep shade. The entire temple complex consists of five main halls: the Chunyang Treasure Hall, the Lingxiao Treasure Hall, the Daxiong Treasure Hall, the Dacheng Treasure Hall, and the Ksitigarbha Hall. In addition to the main halls, there are over ten auxiliary halls such as the Taisui Hall, the Jade Emperor Hall, the Three Purities Hall, the Doumu Hall, the Shanxi Saints Treasure Hall, and the Yuantong Treasure Hall, all built in accordance with the mountains, grand and dignified, using sturdy stone materials and covered with copper tiles, allowing them to last for a thousand years. A long corridor connects the two halls, with pavilions and pools, blooming flowers all year round, fresh air, and a particularly enchanting scenery. It is one of the most renowned Taoist temples in Taiwan, hailed as the "First Sacred Mountain in the World." Due to frequent large-scale religious activities and participation in international Taoist affairs, it has gained widespread fame and become a world-class tourist attraction. Zhinan Temple primarily enshrines the Pure Yang Patriarch, Lü Dongbin, whose formal Taoist title is "Fuyou Emperor," but is commonly referred to as "Xian Gong" or "Lü Zu" among the people. Lü Zu was a figure from the Tang Dynasty, a scholar, who once passed the imperial examinations and served as a county magistrate. Due to his earnest pursuit of the Tao, he had an enlightening encounter with the Zhengyang Patriarch, Zhongli Quan, in a dream, where he was taught the methods to achieve the Great Dao. However, since he established the grand aspiration of “saving all people,” he often manifests to help people in need, leaving many miraculous stories. There are dedicated shrines and temples worshiping him all over the country, with Zhinan Temple being the most popular among visitors. After the opening of the Maokong Gondola, transportation has become more convenient, welcoming tourists at any time. Architectural features of Zhinan Temple include buildings constructed primarily from cypress wood, blue stone, and copper tiles, blending northern palace architecture, traditional Minnan styles, and Buddhist design elements. The Chunyang Treasure Hall is a late representative work of Taiwan's traditional master Chen Yingbin, while the Lingxiao Treasure Hall is the tallest temple structure in Taiwan, adorned with clouds and mythical beasts, and intricately carved dragons and phoenixes, majestic and splendid. The Daxiong Treasure Hall has a distinctive design that resembles a Buddha's head, particularly special. The Ksitigarbha Hall, with its solemn image, features eighteen arhats in a beautiful setting. (Source: Wenshan District Office, Taipei City)
