Linji Huguo Chan Monastery Introduction
Linji Huguo Zen Temple, an extension of the Huguo Temple of the Linji school located at Nanshan during the Japanese colonial period, features typical architectural styles of Edo period Japanese Buddhist temples, including its mountain gate and main hall. Established in 1900 and completed in 1911, it was built by the Japanese monk An Genxiu, who was invited to Taiwan by the fourth Governor-General of Taiwan, Kodama Gentarō, to propagate Buddhism. The Linji school is a branch distinct from the Soto school of Buddhism. The Huguo Zen Temple is situated by the mountains and rivers, with the Keelung River winding nearby. The temple has a large area and grand layout, originally comprising a mountain gate, Dharma hall, main hall, and the abbot's hall. The main hall is still well-preserved, featuring a wooden structure in the hip and bracketing roof style. The mountain gate exhibits architectural style from the Edo period in Japan. Additionally, the large grinding stone in front of the temple and the ancestral grave of the temple's founder, along with stone-carved Buddha statues behind the temple, highlight significant historical and cultural value. Due to its historical, cultural, and artistic significance, Linji Huguo Zen Temple was designated as a municipal historic site in 1998 under the Cultural Heritage Preservation Act. (Source: Taipei City Government Department of Cultural Affairs)
