Mengjia Qingshui Temple Introduction
Mengjia Dizang Temple, commonly known as Mengjia Dizang Wang Temple, primarily enshrines King Dizang and is a designated historical site of level three in Taiwan. The temple is located on Xichang Street in Wanhua District, Taipei City. It was built in the 25th year of the Qianlong reign (1760 AD) and underwent renovations in the 18th year of the Daoguang reign (1838 AD). Originally a privately owned property, during the Japanese colonial period, in order to avoid being claimed by the government, the management rights were transferred to Longshan Temple. Dizang Temple faces east and has preserved the architectural style of a single-hall temple from the mid-Qing Dynasty. The structure is simple, with rustic carvings. It is a single-hall building with three bays in width, featuring a swallow-tail ridge and a gable roof. The entrance has a roll-roofed porch, and the columns and bases are circular. The main wooden structure inside employs a "two-beams, three-corners" type of beam framework, with horizontal lantern rods in the large beam space for hanging lanterns. In addition to enshrining King Dizang Bodhisattva, the temple also houses the Emperor of the North on the left, and the City God of Tainan and Marshal Tiandu on the right. The City God originally resided within the Taipei City walls, but was destroyed during the Japanese era and was subsequently enshrined at this temple. Marshal Tiandu was originally worshipped in Zilai Temple on Xiyuan Road, but after that temple was destroyed, he was also moved here. Every year, on the 30th day of the 7th month of the lunar calendar, a grand celebration is held for the birthday of King Dizang Bodhisattva. The offering table features an ancient incense burner from the 25th year of the Guangxu reign, inscribed with "Autumn Auspicious, Year of Yihai." The plaque bearing the name "Dizang Wang Temple" above the main deity's spirit tablet was established in the 8th year of the Guangxu reign. The rustic incense burners on the offering tables of the generals Fan and Xie, flanking the main deity, were established in the 34th year of the Meiji era (1901). Adjacent to the temple is a public shrine dedicated to the deity Dazhongye, representing the souls of the unclaimed deceased, mainly early immigrants who died tragically while coming to Taiwan for cultivation. This shrine was also built in the 25th year of the Qianlong reign, and both temples have a close historical relationship.
