Mengjia Ksitigarbha Temple Introduction
Monga Jizō Temple, commonly known as Monga Jizō King Temple, is dedicated to Jizō Bodhisattva and is classified as a third-grade historic site in Taiwan. The temple is located on Xichang Street in the Wanhua District of Taipei City. It was built in the 25th year of the Qianlong reign (1760) and was reconstructed in the 18th year of the Daoguang reign (1838). Originally a privately owned property, during the Japanese colonial period, the management rights were transferred to Longshan Temple to prevent it from being taken over by the government. Facing east and built in the style of a single hall temple from the mid-Qing Dynasty, the temple features a simple structure with rustic decorations. It is a single hall building composed of three openings, with a roof that employs a swallowtail ridge and a gable. The entrance features a rolled-up roof-style porch, and the columns are circular. The main wooden structure inside uses a doubly-beamed frame. Across the large beam space, there is a light beam for hanging lanterns. In addition to Jizō Bodhisattva, the temple also enshrines the Emperor of the North on the left, the City God of the capital on the right, and Marshal Tiandu. Additionally, generals Fan and Xie are worshiped on either side of the main deities. The City God temple originally located within Taipei City was destroyed during the Japanese occupation and the City God was relocated to this temple. Marshal Tiandu, originally enshrined in Zilai Temple on Xiyuan Road, was also moved here after the original temple was destroyed. A large public ritual ceremony is held every year on the 30th day of the 7th lunar month to celebrate the birthday of Jizō Bodhisattva. The offering table has a primitive censer from the 25th year of the Guangxu reign, inscribed with "Autumn Good Fortune of the Year of the Yi Hai." The plaque stating "Monga Jizō Temple" at the main deity's altar was established in the 8th year of the Guangxu reign. The humble censers on the offering tables for generals Fan and Xie, positioned on the sides of the main deity, were established in the 34th year of the Meiji era. Adjacent to the temple is a public shrine dedicated to the "Da Zhong Ye," representing the spirits of the unclaimed deceased, many of whom were early immigrants who perished while landfarming in Taiwan. This shrine was also established in the 25th year of the Qianlong reign, closely related to the history of the two temples.
