Yuanlin Zen Temple was founded during the Japanese era in 1931 (Showa 6) by Sōtō Zen Master Okabe Kaidō in Yuanlin, Changhua. Okabe repurposed construction materials from the dismantled Taichung Butokuden (martial arts hall), transporting them to Yuanlin to reconstruct a Buddhist temple known by the mountain name “Jinfengshan” (Golden Phoenix Mountain). The original temple featured a traditional Japanese wooden main hall enshrining Shakyamuni Buddha as the principal deity, flanked by Manjusri and Samantabhadra Bodhisattvas (the “Avatamsaka Trinity”), reflecting the style of a Japanese Zen monastery. After World War II, Okabe passed away and his Japanese successor Mori Kōgai was repatriated at Taiwan’s retrocession. Leadership then transitioned to Zhu Guanghuai (Dharma name Shanguang), a Taiwanese Sōtō practitioner trained at Eiheiji in Japan. In the 1950s, Shanguang not only established the “Ci’ai” Nursery School on-site to serve local children, but also founded a branch temple in Taipei (Guanghua Temple) and launched a Buddhist Weekly publication, contributing greatly to Dharma propagation and social welfare.
Yuanlin Zen Temple was established in 1931
(the 6th year of the Showa era in Japan).
After Shanguang’s passing in 1973, his son Zhu Wenke (lay name, Dharma name Dajun) was elected by devotees to manage the temple. Under Zhu Wenke’s leadership, the temple secured over 400 ping of surrounding land to expand its grounds. He also engaged actively in community charity and Buddhist associations, serving two terms as chairman of the Changhua County Buddhist Association. In 1995, Zhu Wenke initiated a major rebuilding project: the old Japanese-style main hall was donated in its entirety to the “Taiwan Folk Village” in Nantou for preservation and exhibition – a donation agreement was signed on March 7, 1995 and the structure was handed over and relocated on April 17, 1995. The temple held fundraising carnivals for reconstruction that year, drawing support from the public and dignitaries (including Premier Lien Chan), underscoring its local influence. The new temple complex was completed and opened on March 26, 2000. Yuanlin Zen Temple has continued to thrive; Zhu Wenke remained at its helm until his passing in 2017 at age 71, after which his son Zhu Zhangming assumed the chairmanship to carry on the temple’s legacy.
Celebrating the Establishment of Yuanlin Zen Temple (since 1931)
Yuanlin Zen Temple was established in 1931 (the 6th year of the Showa era in Japan).
After Shanguang’s passing in 1973, his son Zhu Wenke (lay name, Dharma name Dajun) was elected by devotees to manage the temple. Under Zhu Wenke’s leadership, the temple secured over 400 ping of surrounding land to expand its grounds. He also engaged actively in community charity and Buddhist associations, serving two terms as chairman of the Changhua County Buddhist Association. In 1995, Zhu Wenke initiated a major rebuilding project: the old Japanese-style main hall was donated in its entirety to the “Taiwan Folk Village” in Nantou for preservation and exhibition – a donation agreement was signed on March 7, 1995 and the structure was handed over and relocated on April 17, 1995. The temple held fundraising carnivals for reconstruction that year, drawing support from the public and dignitaries (including Premier Lien Chan), underscoring its local influence. The new temple complex was completed and opened on March 26, 2000. Yuanlin Zen Temple has continued to thrive; Zhu Wenke remained at its helm until his passing in 2017 at age 71, after which his son Zhu Zhangming assumed the chairmanship to carry on the temple’s legacy.
Celebrating the Establishment of Yuanlin Zen Temple (since 1931)
