Kaisan Temple Introduction
Located along the route from the visitor center to Lingyun Temple, this serene and elegant environment features a two-story stone building built by Master Ben Yuan in 1925, serving as a place for quiet meditation and the transmission of Buddhist teachings. Most of the structure is made from Guanyin Mountain stone, and its dome-shaped architecture may be modeled after ancient Indian Buddhist buildings. The square structure reflects European architectural styles, with arched window designs on the second floor, combining elements of Southern Min architecture with Western styles, showcasing the strong influence of Japanese Westernization during its construction. Inside the courtyard, there is a lifelike stone statue of a Buddha holding a bowl, with the name "Huashan Monastery Dharma Emperor" engraved on its base. This statue commemorates a donation of 33 stone-carved Guanyin statues by believers from the Kansai region of Japan in 1926, which established the 33 Guanyin spiritual sites on Guanyin Mountain in Taipei, referencing the 33 manifestations of Guan Yin Bodhisattva in human form, whether male or female, young or old. According to the Japanese tradition of "Saikoku Thirty-Three Kannon Pilgrimage," an additional statue of a high monk draped in a robe and holding a bowl was also created, representing the monk Huashan Dharma Emperor who advocated for the "Thirty-Three Sites" belief. Kaishanyuan is located not far from Lengyan Pavilion, with both being places for promoting the Dharma and quiet cultivation, thus nicknamed the "Mother and Child Monastery." Currently, it is privately owned by the temple and is not open to the public.
