Beitou Puji Temple Introduction
According to the "Treasures of Famous Buddhist Sites in Taiwan" published by the Taipei "Minde Photography Pavilion" in 1941, Puji Temple and Linji Huguo Zen Temple, both designated as historical sites in Taipei City, serve as preaching points for the Myoshinji branch of the Linji school. During its reconstruction in 1934, the temple was named "Tiezhen Yuan" in honor of the Transportation Department's Chief of Transportation, Akira Murakami, as most of its congregation consisted of employees from the Taiwan Governor-General's Office Railway Department. A monument for Akira Murakami was also established within the temple. In 1998, it was officially designated as a historical site by the city, surrounded by a tranquil and peaceful environment. The temple features a distinctly Japanese architectural style, with the main hall built in a single-eaved Xieshan style measuring three bays wide and three bays deep, creating a nearly square structure with a roof that extends forward to form an entrance foyer. The floor within the main hall is raised and covered with tatami mats, showcasing the simple, tranquil, and solemn beauty of a Japanese temple, built from high-quality cypress wood. The temple still retains Japanese worship rituals, distinct from traditional Taiwanese worship methods. The bell-shaped windows beside the main entrance are particularly noteworthy, and the entrance foyer features exquisite carvings on the dougong brackets and rainbow beams, with a plaque inscribed with "Puji Temple" that was hand-lettered by Gō Nō. It is worth mentioning that a stone Buddha, holding a baby in its left arm and a Zen staff in its right, is enshrined in a pavilion to the left of the temple. The general public regards this statue as the "Guan Yin of Children," while Buddhists believe it represents the Japanese "Koya Bodhisattva," one of the manifestations of Dizang Wang Bodhisattva, attracting many devoted followers to pray for offspring. The statues of Tangshou Guanyin and Koya Bodhisattva have become major attractions of the temple.
