Mengjia Qingshui Temple Introduction
Mengjia Dizang Temple, commonly known as Mengjia Dizang Wang Temple, enshrines Dizang Wang and is a Category III historical monument in Taiwan. The temple is located on Xichang Street in the Wanhua District of Taipei City, built in the 25th year of the Qianlong Emperor's reign (1760), and was renovated in the 18th year of the Daoguang Emperor's reign (1838). Originally a privately owned property, during the Japanese rule, the management rights were transferred to Longshan Temple to avoid confiscation by the authorities. The Dizang Wang Temple faces east and retains the architectural style of a single-hall temple from the mid-Qing Dynasty, characterized by a simple structure and plain carvings. It consists of a three-bay wide single-hall building with a swallowtail ridge and a gable roof. The entrance features a rolled eaves corridor, with round pillars. Inside, the large wooden structure employs a two-truss three-coupling beam type roof framework, with a crossbeam in the main hall for hanging lanterns. In addition to the main deity, Dizang Wang, there are subsidiary deities: on the left, the Emperor of the North, and on the right, Lord City God and Marshal of the Fields, with Generals Fan and Xie enshrined on both sides. The Lord City God originally resided in the inner Taipei City but was destroyed during the Japanese occupation and was then relocated to this temple. The Marshal of the Fields was originally worshiped in the Zilai Gong on Xiyuan Road, but after the temple was destroyed, he was also transferred here. Every year, a large-scale ceremonial celebration is held on the birthday of Dizang Wang on the 30th day of the seventh lunar month. The offering table features an ancient incense burner dating back to the 25th year of the Guangxu Emperor, inscribed with "Autumn Auspiciousness of the Year of Yi Hai". Additionally, the plaque of "Dizang Wang Temple" above the main deity’s tablet was established in the 8th year of the Guangxu Emperor. The ancient incense burners on the offering tables of Generals Fan and Xie flanking the main deity were set up in the 34th year of the Meiji era. Beside the temple is a public temple dedicated to the Lord of the Masses, representing unowned souls, mostly early immigrants who unfortunately died while cultivating the land. This temple was also built in the 25th year of the Qianlong Emperor, and both temples have a close historical relationship.
