Huguo Chan Buddhist Temple of the Linji School, Buddhist temple in Zhongshan District, Taipei, Taiwan
Huguo Chan Buddhist Temple is a Zen Buddhist shrine in Taipei's Zhongshan District featuring wooden structures with broad roofs influenced by Japanese design. The main hall displays Buddhist statues, while additional prayer areas and figures sit higher up the slope on an adjacent hill.
Construction began in 1900 during Japanese rule when Governor Kodama Gentaro invited Rinzai school monks to establish Zen Buddhism in Taiwan. The site has since developed into an important religious center that reflects different periods of the region's past.
The temple's name "Huguo" means protection of the nation, reflecting its role as a spiritual place for the community. Visitors walking through the grounds can observe how monks and worshippers use the halls for daily practice and prayer.
The temple sits near MRT Yuanshan Station and is accessible by public transport. A staircase beside the main gate leads upward to additional areas with elevated views across the city.
The temple underwent major restoration work in 2007 that carefully preserved its traditional wooden structures and original craftsmanship. This renovation ensures visitors today see the building much as it would have appeared in earlier decades.
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