Tainan Kaiyuan Temple

　　Tainan Kaiyuan Temple is located in North District, Tainan City. Originally built in the 29th year of the Kangxi reign during the Qing Dynasty (1690), it is one of Taiwan’s most famous temples. It sits at the point where the Chaitougang Stream meets the sea, so it was initially named “Haihui Temple” (Sea Assembly Temple). However, as it was the first government-sponsored Buddhist temple in Taiwan, it was renamed “Kaiyuan Temple” following the precedent set by Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty.

　　Tainan Kaiyuan Temple has had a profound influence on the development of modern Taiwanese Buddhism. On August 19, 1985 (the 74th year of the Republic of China), it was designated as a second-class historic site and is also one of the “Seven Temples and Eight Shrines” of the Tainan Prefecture City. The temple faces east and, after renovations by Jiang Yuanshu, consists of a four-hall complex with two wing rooms, representing a typical “Seven Halls of the Sangharama” monastery layout. Upon entering through the mountain gate on Beiyuan Street, visitors will find a spacious temple courtyard, with a stele pavilion standing to its north. Beyond the courtyard lies the Sanchuan Gate, which is five bays wide at the center and features three pairs of door gods painted by renowned Tainan artist Cai Caoru—namely Wei Tuo and Skanda in the center, and the Four Heavenly Kings on the sides. Above the Sanchuan Gate hangs a plaque inscribed with “Kaiyuan Temple,” while inside is another plaque that reads “Little Western Heaven.” The gate is also flanked by couplets written by Lin Chao Ying, a notable scholar of the Qing Dynasty—the only surviving calligraphic works of his in Taiwan.

　　In addition, the Seven-String Bamboo and the Poetic Soul Stele within Tainan Kaiyuan Temple are also popular attractions. Legend has it that the Seven-String Bamboo was planted by Lady Dong, the mother of Zheng Jing, and is a rare and unique variety of bamboo originating from Wolonggang in Henan Province, seldom seen in Taiwan.

　　Tainan Kaiyuan Temple Must-visit reason: Taiwan’s earliest government-established temple