Mengjia Qingshui Temple Introduction
Mengjia Dihua Temple, commonly known as Mengjia Ksitigarbha Temple, is dedicated to Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva and is recognized as a historical site by the municipality. The temple is located on Xichang Street in the Wanhua District of Taipei City and was built in the 25th year of the Qianlong reign (1760) and was renovated in the 18th year of the Daoguang reign (1838). Initially a privately-owned property, during the Japanese occupation, its management was transferred to Longshan Temple to prevent it from being nationalized. The Ksitigarbha Temple faces east with a westward orientation and still retains the architectural style of a single hall temple. The building structure is simple, with modest decorations. The temple is a three-bay single hall structure, featuring a swallowtail ridge and a gable roof. The entrance has a roll-roofed corridor and the pillars are circular. The main hall has a large wooden structure supported by a braced frame, with crossbeams for hanging lanterns in the central section. In addition to the main deity, Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, there are side deities: the Emperor of the North on the left, the City God and Marshal Tian Du on the right. The City God Temple was originally located within Taipei City but was destroyed during the Japanese period and the City God was moved to this temple. The Marshal of Tian Du was originally worshipped at Zilai Temple on Xiyuan Road, which was later destroyed and thus was also enshrined here. A large ceremonial ritual is held annually on the 30th day of the 7th lunar month to celebrate the birthday of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva. The offering table features an ancient incense burner from the 32nd year of the Meiji era, inscribed with "Autumn Auspiciousness of the Year of the Yi Hai," along with a plaque reading "Ksitigarbha Temple" established in the 8th year of the Guangxu era. The antique incense burners on the offering tables for the generals Fan and Xie beside the main deity were set up in the 34th year of the Meiji era. Beside the temple is a public temple dedicated to the Dazhong Ye, worshipped as the spirits of unclaimed souls, many of whom were early immigrants who tragically died while cultivating land in Taiwan. This temple was also built in the 25th year of the Qianlong reign and has a close historical relationship with the Ksitigarbha Temple.
