New Beitou Shanguang Temple Introduction
Shankō-ji, unlike ordinary temples with extravagant decorations, has a very simple appearance. Although Shankō-ji is not open to the public on regular days, during the cherry blossom season, visitors can still admire the寒櫻 (寒櫻) and山櫻花 (山櫻花) at the entrance steps, complemented by two stone lanterns at the entrance, creating a unique atmosphere. Shankō-ji in Beitou is a temple of the Pure Land School, Nishiyama Shinkusa sect, and served as a spiritual center for Japanese immigrants at that time. The temple is famous for its Buddha relic pagoda, which enshrines the relics of Shakyamuni Buddha brought back from Japan. Shankō-ji originated from the Shinano Shankō-ji in Nagano Prefecture, Japan, and was founded in the 21st year of the Republic of China (1932, Shōwa 7) by the 117th Abbot, Kōen Niko. The first abbot appointed was Nakano Zenno. In the 35th year of the Republic of China, at the beginning of Taiwan's recovery, the Dharma lamp of Shankō-ji continued to flourish under the guidance of the Abbot Xukong Baozhu. In the 48th year of the Republic of China, the Japanese-style hall of Shankō-ji was destroyed in the "87 Flood," and a new hall was built in the 51st year, along with the construction of a pagoda in September of the same year to house the relic of Shakyamuni Buddha, which is the most important feature of the temple. Shankō-ji mainly enshrines Shakyamuni Buddha, thus the Sakyamuni Hall houses the Three Jewels Buddha (Shakyamuni Buddha, Yakushi Nyorai, and Amida Buddha), while the Dharma King's Hall enshrines Amida Buddha. It is generally not open for worship due to the monks’ daily practice, and is only open during festivals and ceremonies. The most eye-catching feature of Shankō-ji is the Buddha pagoda built in the 51st year of the Republic of China, which imitates Indian temple architecture, consists of three tiers named after Buddha, treasure, and pagoda, with the top tier enshrining the relics of Shakyamuni Buddha brought back from Japan; the middle and lower levels serve as spiritual body pagodas. The pagoda is adorned with copper bells around its four sides. Four dragons guard the middle tier from all directions, exuding a majestic aura, and golden lotus flowers adorn each corner. In addition, Shankō-ji retains many relics from the Japanese era, such as the stone statues at the main gate of the Dharma King's Hall and eighty-six stone carvings of Buddha statues. Additionally, a monument commemorating Okamoto Yōhachi, a Japanese mineralogist who discovered the radiation-rich "Beitou stone" (Hokutolite) in the Beitou Valley near New Beitou in 1905, stands proudly in the temple courtyard. Takeda Fujimura erected this monument in Beitou in 1940, and after many twists and turns, it was preserved within Shankō-ji, serving as the best testament to the history of Beitou stone. (Source: Hepburn Beitou - Walking Investigation)
