Zhinan Temple Introduction
Zhinan Temple is located at No. 115, Wanshou Road, Wenshan District, Taipei City, at the foothills of Zhinan Mountain in Muzha, with an elevation of 285 meters. It was established in the 16th year of the Guangxu era during the Qing Dynasty (1890 AD) by Wang Binlin, the magistrate of Tamsui, who brought the spirit from Yongle Palace in Shanxi to Taiwan. The temple area covers several dozen hectares, with towering ancient trees providing dense shade. The entire temple complex consists of five main halls: the Pure Yang Treasure Hall, the Lingxiao Treasure Hall, the Mahavira Hall, the Dacheng Treasure Hall, and the Ksitigarbha Hall. In addition, there are more than ten auxiliary halls including the Tai Sui Hall, the Jade Emperor Hall, the Three Pure Ones Hall, the Doumu Hall, the Shanxi Sacred Deity Treasure Hall, and the Yuantong Treasure Hall, all constructed in accordance with the mountainside, grand and majestic. The architecture mainly utilizes solid stone materials and is covered with copper tiles, capable of lasting for a thousand years. There are long corridors connecting the halls, pavilions, and pools, with flowers blooming throughout the seasons, fresh air, and beautiful scenery, making it one of the most famous Taoist temples in Taiwan, renowned as "the first sacred mountain under heaven." Due to regularly hosting large religious events and participating in international spiritual affairs, it has gained a wide reputation and become a world-class tourist attraction. Zhinan Temple primarily enshrines the Pure Yang Ancestor Master Lü Dongbin, whose official Taoist name is “Fuyou Emperor Jun,” but is commonly referred to by the public as "Xian Gong" or "Lü Zu." Lü Zu was a contemporary of the Tang Dynasty, well-versed in poetry and literature, having passed the imperial examination and served as a county magistrate. Because of his devout pursuit of the Tao, he encountered the Master Zhang Li Quan, the Zhenyang Ancestor, who enlightened him with a dream of millet and tested him with the transformation of stone into gold, imparting the essence of the Tao, which led him to achieve the Dao and attain the status of an immortal. Due to his grand aspiration of "saving all in the world," he frequently manifests in folk tales of "benefiting the world, rescuing people, and alleviating difficulties," leaving behind many miraculous stories as a Taoist deity worshiped in dedicated temples across the country, making Zhinan Temple the most favored place for visits. With the operation of the Maokong Gondola, transportation has become more convenient, and visitors are welcome at any time. The architectural features of Zhinan Temple consist of buildings made primarily from nanmu, blue stone, and copper tiles, blending Northern palace styles, Minnan traditional designs, and Buddhist features. The Pure Yang Treasure Hall is a representative later work by Taiwan's traditional master Chen Yingbin. The Lingxiao Treasure Hall is the highest building in Taiwanese temples, adorned with celestial clouds and creatures on the roof ridge, intricately carved dragons and phoenixes, making it grand and splendid. The Mahavira Hall has a shape resembling a Buddha's head, which is particularly unique. The Ksitigarbha Hall features a solemn visage, surrounded by eighteen Arhats, in a picturesque setting. (Source: Wenshan District Office, Taipei City)
