Nishi Hongan-ji Plaza Introduction
Located at the southern edge of Ximen Town, at the intersection of Zhonghua Road and Changsha Street, the "Wanhua 406 Plaza," originally known as the "Nihon Nishi Hongan-ji," was jointly funded by Taiwanese believers and Japanese donors. Its official name is the "Jodo Shinshu Hongwanji-ha Taiwan Branch," which began construction in 1904 and was completed in 1912. It features a collection of buildings filled with Japanese-style charm. The Taiwan branch of Nishi Hongan-ji is a sub-temple of the Jodo Shinshu Hongwanji-ha in Japan, with many of its main architectural styles drawing from the eclectic styles commonly found in Japanese Buddhism in the 18th and 19th centuries. The main hall, prayer hall, kitchen, and bell tower are all primarily in an eclectic style, while the waiting room reflects traditional Japanese residential forms. The Shuxin Hall showcases the spirit of a new era, using brick structures combined with Western-style timber framing, yet maintains a Japanese-style roof. After the opening of Nishi Hongan-ji Plaza, it often attracts many photography enthusiasts who come to take pictures. Numerous bloggers share their travel stories online, capturing the vintage bell tower, nostalgic Shuxin Hall, traditional-style waiting room, and understated historical main hall amidst a lush green park, creating beautiful scenes in the eyes of visitors. The culturally and historically rich "Nishi Hongan-ji" heritage complex, through revitalization and operational promotion by public sectors, has transformed this plaza into an urban square that can extend and expand the Ximen cultural and pop culture circle, providing travelers with a deeper journey to reminisce about historical flows while exploring the bustling Ximen area, and it is expected to attract crowds and rejuvenate the vibrant landscape of the Monga area.
