Lung Shan Temple in Taipei

My Taiwan friends brought us to the Lung Shan Temple in Taipei on 26 February, 2016 evening.

Lungshan Temple is located in Manka district of Taipei.  It was founded in 1738 and dedicated to the Goddess of Mercy (Kuan Im in Chinese or Avalokitesvara in Sanskrit.

This temple originated its name from the ancient Lungshan Temple established in Chin-chiang county of Fukien province in the seventh century.  Immigrants from the three counties - Chin-chiang, Nan-an and Hui-an of Fukien came to Manka in the beginning of the eighteenth century.

As they were pious followers of that ancient Lungshan Temple in their hometown, they erected this one as a branch temple at Manka and named it after the root temple when they created a new settlement here in Taipei.  Lungshan Temple of today is no longer in the original buildings constructed in 1738.  It was rebuilt in 1919 and completed in 1924.

The present Lungshan Temple consists of three halls:  the fore hall, the main hall and the rear hall

The fore hall is used as the entrance for the devotees to worship.

The main hall is in the center of the temple with a statue of Goddess Kuan Im who is enshrined in the center accompanied by two Bodhisattvas, Manjusri at the left and Samantabhdra at the right.

The eighteen Arahans are also present on both sides as attendants.

The rear hall was added only around the end of the eighteenth century after Manka was assigned as an official port for trade with Chuan- chou and Foochou of Fukien in 1792 by the Chinese government.

As a result of prosperous business, the merchant guild "Chuan Chiao" of Manka erected the rear hall to venerate the patron Matzu to pray for protection for their safe sailing to China on business.  The rear hall is divided into three parts.  The center is for the veneration of Matzu as the Goddess of marine voyage.

During my first trip to Taiwn in 2015, I  visited the Matzu Temple in Taiwan  here.

龍山寺簡介 

艋舺，今名萬華，為臺北市發源地，其最古老市街在紗帽廚社的故址大溪口，即今貴陽街與環河南路口。清康熙四十八年（西元1709年）陳賴章墾號請墾大佳臘，福建泉州之晉江、南安、惠安三邑人士渡海來此而漸成聚落，當時平埔族人以獨木舟自淡水河上游載運蕃薯等農產品與漢人交易，時稱蕃薯市；而獨木舟在平埔族語言中之發音為Banka，漢人乃音譯為「艋舺」。 

早年臺灣北部為一蠻煙瘴癘之地，俗諺「三在六亡一回頭」，環境十分險惡，漢人前來墾植時為求神佑，多攜帶家鄉廟宇香火以為庇護，後因漢人聚落漸增，三邑人士遂於清乾隆三年（西元1738年）合資興建龍山寺，並迎請福建省晉江縣安海龍山寺觀世音菩薩分靈來臺。

龍山寺不僅是居民信仰中心，舉凡議事、訴訟等均祈求神靈公斷。光緒十年（西元1884年）中法戰爭中，法軍侵占基隆獅球嶺，當地居民乃組織義軍，以龍山寺印行文官署，協助擊退法軍，獲光緒皇帝賜「慈暉遠蔭」匾額。 初創之龍山寺，規模雄偉，雕塑精緻，歷經嘉慶二十年（西元1815年）大地震重修，同治六年（西元1867年）暴風雨侵襲再行修築，至民國八年棟樑遭白蟻蛀蝕，當時住持福智大師率先捐出一生積蓄七千餘元，集資修復，奠定今日龍山寺之規模。

民國卅四年於第二次世界大戰期間受空襲摧殘，中殿全毀，惟觀世音菩薩聖像仍端坐蓮臺，寶相莊嚴；以往遇有空襲，居民皆以觀世音菩薩蓮座下為避難所，然此次空襲前夕，避難居民因不堪兇蚊肆虐紛紛返家，以致中殿受毀時無人受難，居民相信是觀世音菩薩庇護而奔相走告，此一神蹟更使得觀世音菩薩成為艋舺居民一大精神支柱。 龍山寺坐北朝南，面呈回字形，為中國古典三進四合院之宮殿式建築，由前殿、正殿、後殿及左右護龍構成。前殿為11開間，分為三川殿、龍門廳、虎門廳。三川殿前有一對全臺僅見之銅鑄蟠龍柱，

正面牆堵則由花崗石與青斗石混合組構而成，牆上故事多出自三國演義和封神榜，富於教育意義。

正殿屋頂採歇山重簷式，四面走馬廊共42根柱子構成，殿外牆堵留有多幅著名書法家石刻，殿內的螺旋藻井不費一釘一鐵，全由斗栱相嵌築構而成。

後殿屋頂採歇山重簷式，為典型儒、道教諸神佛供奉處。左右護龍各配有鐘樓與鼓樓，晨鐘暮鼓，其轎頂式扁六角形的屋頂，造形獨特。全寺屋頂脊帶和飛簷由龍鳳、麒麟等吉祥物造形，飾以剪黏和交趾陶，色彩瑰麗，堪稱臺灣剪黏藝術之精華。

民國七十四年政府公告艋舺龍山寺為國家保護之二級古蹟，與國立故宮博物院、中正紀念堂並列為國際觀光客來臺旅遊的三大名勝。龍山寺並於板橋文化路興建文化廣場大樓，民國九十四年落成啟用後，辦理多項課程與講座，以善盡弘揚佛法、提倡社教的文化價值。艋舺龍山寺每年定期舉辦節慶祭典及民俗活動，如農曆正月花燈展覽、四月浴佛節、七月盂蘭盆勝會等，民眾來到艋舺龍山寺除了欣賞臺灣寺廟建築藝術之美，亦可以感受傳統民俗文化的樂趣。(Source:  Lung Shan Temple, Taipei).

Bright and colorful decoration at the compound opposite the temple.

Walking through the tunnel of rainbow lights for blessing and good luck.