Dizang Temple 地藏庵 in Xinzhuang 新莊, Taibei

Photo by Jiang Wu

Dizang Temple 地藏庵 is a beautiful place in Xinzhuang 新莊, Taibei. It is next to the hotel I lived during my stay from Dec. 18-23, 2017. Here is a short discription.

"Built in 1757, Dizang Buddhist Temple is also named as Public Temple or Public Master Temple 大眾廟. It used to worship public masters of civil and military, but now it worships Ksitigarbha Bodhisatva. From two days before May 1st, a folk custom event will be held: "Anfang", which is a ritual to drive away ghosts; and on May 1st, there will be a grand activity held to pray for the safety of people. This is an annual event and the climax of the activity: people from the temples in this town will form a big group and hand out Xianguang Cake and safety charms to bless those who are luckyenough to have them."

Manao Temple/Lian Heng Memorial Museum 瑪瑙寺/連橫紀念館

Front entrance of Manao Temple, photo by Jiang Wu

For those who study the Chinese printing history in late imperial China, Manao Temple 瑪瑙寺 was famous because it had a printshop specializing in Buddhist prints. In May 13, 2015, I had a chance to visit this temple which is located right next to West Lake in Hangzhou. There are some Obaku prints were actually outsourced to Hangzhou to print. I am wondering if Manao Temple had worked for Manpukuji's Chinese monks. The main Buddha hall is no longer there and a memorial museum has been set up for Taiwan KMT leader Lian Zhan's 連戰 father Lian Heng 連橫. It is still a beautiful place.

Lian Heng Statue in Manao Temple, photo by Jiang Wu

Taiwan exhibition hall in Manao Temple, photo by Jiang Wu