Kaishanyuan Introduction
Located on the way from the Visitor Center to Lingyun Zen Temple, this place features a serene and elegant environment. It is a two-story stone building built by Master Benyuan in 1925 (14th year of the Republic of China) for the purpose of quiet meditation and the transmission of Buddhist teachings. The building is mostly constructed from stones sourced from Guanyin Mountain, and its dome-like shape may be inspired by ancient Indian Buddhist architecture. The structure has a square form but resembles a Western-style building, with arched window sills on the second floor. This blend of Minnan-style architecture and Western architecture signifies that this small Buddhist temple was deeply influenced by Japanese Westernized architectural styles at the time of its construction. Inside the temple, there is a lifelike stone statue of a Buddha dressed in robes and holding a begging bowl, with the base inscribed with the name "Huashan Temple Dharma Emperor." In 1926 (15th year of the Taisho era) in Japan, devotees from the Kansai region donated 33 stone carvings of Guanyin, establishing the 33 sacred Guanyin sites on Guanyin Mountain near Taipei. These represent the 33 manifestations of Guanyin in the human world, which can appear as male, female, old, or young. Following the Japanese tradition of the "33 Sites of Western Japan," an additional statue of a high monk wearing robes and holding a bowl is included, representing the monk Huashan Dharma Emperor who promoted the "33 Sites" belief. The Kaishan Temple is not far from the Lengyan Pavilion, and both serve as places for teaching and quiet cultivation, thus referred to as "Mother and Child Temples." Currently, it is privately owned by the temple and is not open to the public.
