Shandao Temple

The Japanese introduced a number of schools of Buddhism during their 50-year colonial occupation of Taiwan (1895-1945), but these efforts were not particularly successful due to the language barriers.

Shandao Temple was established by the Pure Land school in 1935. It was originally named the "Pure Land Mission". Today, Shandao Temple is the largest of Taipei's seven most prominent Buddhist temples.

Compared with most Chinese Taoist and folk-religion temples, Shantao Temple is simple in appearance and the atmosphere inside is one of quiet solemnity. Construction of a nine-story pagoda beside the original temple began in 1981 and completed five years later. Four of the pagoda's floors are used for the storage of books and scriptures, and the other floors are used to display works of Buddhist art dating all the way back to the Six Dynasties period (220-589 AD). Notable among these treasures is a wooden carving of Guanyin, Goddess of Mercy, which was created during the Song Dynasty (960-1279 AD). This carving has great historic value and has been exhibited at the famous National Palace Museum.

Shandao Temple is located in Chunghsiao East Road in Taipei City's Chungcheng District. Visitors can take the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) network and get off at the Shandao Temple Station. The temple's display area opens daily from 9am to 5pm, except on Mondays.