20241026(Sat)-Longshan Temple Overview,Established in 1738

Author : Nalan Snow

Monga(艋舺), now known as Wanhua(萬華), is the birthplace of Taipei City. Its oldest street was located near the former Shamarchu community(紗帽廚社), at Daxi Port(大溪口), which is now at the intersection of Guiyang Street(貴陽街) and Huanhe South Road.(環河南路口) 

On the left side of the map, you can see the river—this is the Tamsui River.

In 1709, during the Qing Dynasty’s Kangxi era, the Chen-Lai-Chang(陳賴章) land development corporation applied for land reclamation rights in Dajia(大佳臘). 

People from Jinjiang(晉江), Nan’an(南安), and Hui’an(惠安) in Quanzhou(泉州), Fujian(福建) Province crossed the sea to settle here, gradually forming a community. At that time, the indigenous Pingpu people(平埔族) would transport sweet potatoes and other agricultural products downstream from the Tamsui（淡水） River using canoes for trading with the Han people（漢人）. This market was called the “Sweet Potato Market,”(蕃薯市) and the Pingpu word for canoe, “Banka,” was phonetically transcribed by the Han settlers as “Monga.”

In early times, northern Taiwan was known for its challenging conditions, described in the local proverb: “Three come, six die, one returns.”(三在六亡一回頭) .

“Three come, six die, one returns” is an old Taiwanese proverb that describes the harsh living conditions in northern Taiwan during the early settlement period. The meaning of the phrase is: out of every ten people who come to this land, three manage to stay and survive, six die due to the harsh environment, and only one decides to give up and return home.

When Han settlers came to cultivate the area, they often brought incense ashes from their hometown temples for protection. As the number of Han communities grew, people from these three towns（Jinjiang(晉江), Nan’an(南安), and Hui’an(惠安)） jointly funded the construction of Longshan Temple in 1738 (the 3rd year of the Qianlong era，Qianlong was an emperor of the Qing Dynasty in China, ruling from 1735 to 1796) and invited a statue of Guanyin（觀音） from Longshan Temple in Anhai(安海), Jinjiang(晉江), Fujian(福建), to Taiwan. Longshan Temple became a spiritual center for residents, where they prayed for divine guidance in community affairs and disputes.

During the Sino-French War of 1884 (Guangxu 10(光緒10年)，Guangxu 10 refers to the 10th year of the Guangxu Emperor’s reign in the Qing Dynasty, which corresponds to the year 1884 in the Western calendar. The Guangxu Emperor ruled China from 1875 to 1908), when French forces occupied Shiqiuling in Keelung(基隆獅球嶺), local residents organized a militia and issued documents under the Longshan Temple’s seal to assist in repelling the French. In recognition, Emperor Guangxu(光緒) awarded a plaque reading “Merciful Grace Extends Far.”（慈暉遠蔭）

This four-character plaque (匾額) reads “Merciful Grace Extends Far” (慈暉遠蔭), symbolizing the boundless compassion and benevolence of Guanyin(觀音), the Goddess of Mercy, in offering salvation and protection to all beings. In this context, the phrase conveys Guanyin’s great love and mercy, which reaches far and wide, extending blessings and support to those in need. The plaque serves as a tribute to her universal compassion and role in guiding and protecting her followers

The original Longshan Temple was grand and intricately decorated. It was rebuilt after a major earthquake in 1815 (Jiaqing 20，嘉慶二十年), and again after being damaged by a storm in 1867 (Tongzhi 6，同治六年). In 1919, its main beams were infested with termites. Master Fuchi(福智大師), the abbot at the time, donated over NT$7,000, his life savings, to fund the restoration, establishing the scale of the temple as it is today.

During World War II in 1945, the temple was severely damaged in an air raid, destroying the central hall. Miraculously, the statue of Guanyin（觀音） remained intact. Residents who had used the temple as a shelter during air raids believed this event was a testament to Guanyin’s protective power. This “miracle” solidified Guanyin’s role as a symbol of hope for Monga residents.

Longshan Temple（龍山寺） faces south and features a traditional Chinese palace-style structure with three courtyards and four surrounding buildings, consisting of the front hall（前殿）, main hall （正殿）, rear hall （後殿）, and protective side wings,（護殿). 

The front hall includes a unique pair of copper dragon columns and walls adorned with granite and blue-stone carvings, depicting stories from Romance of the Three Kingdoms （三國）and Investiture of the Gods（封神）, offering educational value.

Three Kingdoms (三國演義, Romance of the Three Kingdoms) is a historical novel set during the turbulent Three Kingdoms period (220-280 AD) in China. Written by Luo Guanzhong（羅貫中）, it tells the story of the fall of the Han Dynasty and the power struggle among three competing kingdoms—Wei, Shu, and Wu（魏、蜀、吳）—as they vie for control over China. The novel portrays the loyalty, strategy, and complex relationships among famous figures such as Liu Bei（劉備）, Cao Cao（曹操）, and Sun Quan（孫權）, alongside iconic military strategists like Zhuge Liang（諸葛亮）. It blends historical events with fictionalized heroics, creating a rich tale of ambition, loyalty, and warfare.

Investiture of the Gods (封神榜, Fengshen Yanyi): This novel, attributed to Xu Zhonglin(許仲琳), is a mix of history and mythology, set in the Shang and Zhou(商周) dynasties. It narrates the story of the last Shang king, King Zhou(紂王), whose misrule leads to divine intervention by deities and immortals to aid the Zhou(周) in overthrowing the Shang. Characters include powerful deities, warriors, and supernatural beings, like Nezha(哪吒) and Jiang Ziya(姜子牙), who fight in an epic conflict involving spells, magic, and transformations. The story blends elements of Taoism(道教), Buddhism(佛教), and folklore(民間故事), portraying the cosmic battle between good and evil forces.

The main hall roof has a double-eaved hip-and-gable structure(歇山重簷式), with 42 columns and calligraphy inscriptions on stone plaques along the walls. The hall’s spiral caisson ceiling is crafted without nails, held together entirely by interlocking brackets. The rear hall is dedicated to various Confucian, Taoist, and Buddhist deities, with unique pagoda-shaped six-sided roofs for the bell and drum towers on each side.

The temple roof features exquisite dragon and phoenix sculptures decorated with jian nian (cut-and-paste ceramics) and Koji pottery(交趾陶), showcasing Taiwan’s traditional cut-and-paste ceramic art. In 1985, the government designated Longshan Temple as a protected national historical site, alongside the National Palace Museum (故宮博物院）and the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall(中正紀念堂) as major international attractions in Taiwan.

Longshan Temple established the Wanhua Cultural Plaza in Banqiao(板橋） and has since hosted courses and lectures to promote Buddhist teachings and social education. 

Annually, the temple holds traditional festivals and folk activities, such as the Lantern Festival in the first lunar month(花燈展覽), Buddha’s Birthday in April(浴佛節), and the Ghost Festival in July(盂蘭盆勝會), allowing visitors to appreciate Taiwan’s temple architecture and experience its vibrant folk traditions.