Shan Guang Temple (New Taipei Beitou) Introduction
Shankō-ji Temple, unlike most temples, features a simple exterior with no extravagant decorations. Although Shankō-ji is not open to the public on regular days, during the cherry blossom season, it is still possible to enjoy the blossoms of winter and mountain cherry trees at the temple's entrance steps, complemented by two stone lanterns at the entrance, providing a unique charm, making it another hidden gem for cherry blossom viewing in Beitou. Shankō-ji Temple in Beitou is a temple of the Pure Land Sect of the Nishiyama Shinkusa tradition, serving as a center of faith for Japanese immigrants at the time. The temple is particularly famous for its Buddha relic stupa, which houses the relics of Shakyamuni Buddha brought back from Japan. Shankō-ji Temple originated from the Shinano Shankō-ji Temple in Nagano Prefecture, Japan, established in the 21st year of the Republic of China (1932) by the 117th Abbot of the Hongwan-ji, Master Sei-en, who chose the current site for the temple. The first abbot was Master Nakano Zen-no. In the 35th year of the Republic of China, shortly after the restoration of Taiwan, the light of Shankō-ji continued under Master Jing Kong. In the 48th year of the Republic, the Japanese-style hall of Shankō-ji was destroyed in the "87 Flood," leading to the construction of a new hall in the 51st year, with a stupa completed in September of that year to enshrine the relics of Shakyamuni Buddha, which is the temple's most important feature. Shankō-ji primarily enshrines Shakyamuni Buddha, so the Shakyamuni Hall houses the Three Treasures (Shakyamuni Buddha, Bhaisajya Guru, and Amitabha Buddha), while the Dharma King Hall enshrines Amitabha Buddha. The temple is usually not open for worship, as it is reserved for the monks' daily practices, only being open during festival ceremonies. The most striking feature of Shankō-ji is the Buddha stupa built in the 51st year of the Republic, modeled after Indian temple architecture, consisting of three tiers, topped with the relics of Shakyamuni Buddha; the middle and bottom levels serve as spirit towers. The stupa is adorned with bronze bells and guarded by four dragons on the middle tier, with golden lotus flowers embellishing the corners. Additionally, Shankō-ji still retains many relics from the Japanese era, such as the stone statues at the main entrance of the Dharma King Hall and 86 stone Buddha sculptures; furthermore, a monument dedicated to Okamoto Yōhachi, who discovered the radiation-rich Hokutolite in the Beitou Creek Valley near New Beitou in 1905, stands in the temple courtyard. In 1940, "Takahisa Fujiyama" specially erected the "Okamoto Yōhachi Monument" in Beitou, which endured numerous transitions and difficulties before being preserved in Shankō-ji, serving as the best testament to the history of Hokutolite. (Source: Hanfeng Beitou - Exploring on Foot)
