[1] In 1900, then Japanese Governor of Taiwan Kodama Gentaro (兒玉源太郎), who himself was affiliated with the same sect, requested monks from the Rinzai school (of Zen Buddhism in Japan) to come to Taiwan, build a temple, and promote Zen Buddhism on the land nearby the (then) newly constructed Taiwan Grand (Shinto) Shrine (台灣神社).

The first abbot who also oversaw the construction was Kodama Gentaro’s university classmate, Iori Genshu (梅山玄秀), at the time of the invitation, already a well known monk in Osaka.

[3][4] In April 2007, the Taipei Municipal Government has allocated NT$18.05 million for the reconstruction project.

The Mahavira Hall houses statues of Sakyamuni (center), Guanyin (right) and Ksitigarbha (left).

On most Sunday mornings a more than a hour long meditation session is held starting at 8:30 am.