A sprawling Zen Buddhist temple complex on the north side of Taichung. It was established in 1928 and has been expanded over the years, with the addition of an enormous concrete statue of Budai (布袋), the Laughing Buddha, in 1964. This statue was designed by Taichung artist Wang Shui-ho (王水河) and is one of the most iconic landmarks in this part of the city. The temple itself is also unusual for interring the remains of both Taiwanese and Japanese soldiers and civilians who perished in World War 2.
Map
Themes
- Japanese Colonial Era Taiwan (台灣日治時代)
- Temple Culture in Taiwan (台灣的寺廟文化)
- World War 2 History in Taiwan (台灣第二次世界大戰歷史)
- Giant Gods in Taiwan (台灣巨大神像)
- Wang Shui-ho (王水河)
Nearby Locations
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Author
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I am a web application developer, photojournalist, urban explorer, and history enthusiast passionate about the open web and documenting my experiences on this planet. This project was founded in the early 2010s and has evolved into a sort of personal Wikipedia of places that interest me (and often the photographs I’ve taken there). I’m originally from Toronto, Canada, but spend most of my time residing in Taiwan.