Former Jodo-shu Taipei Betsu-in (Now Shandao Temple)

The Jodo-shu Taipei Betsu-in — the Taipei branch temple of the Jodo-shu (Pure Land) sect — was the most important institutional center of Japanese Buddhism in colonial Taiwan, overseeing all Pure Land sect temples across the island from its establishment in the late Meiji era through Japan's surrender in 1945.

ESTABLISHMENT AND EARLY HISTORY

In 1895 (Meiji 28), shortly after Japan assumed control of Taiwan following the Treaty of Shimonoseki, the Jodo-shu priest Hashimoto (橋本定憧) established a Pure Land propagation center (布教所) on Fuzen Street (府前街) within the old walled city of Taipei. This was one of the earliest Japanese Buddhist missionary outposts in Taiwan, reflecting the Imperial government's strategy of using Buddhist institutions to integrate the newly acquired colony. In 1907 (Meiji 40), due to urban redevelopment, the propagation center relocated to the Maruyama Loyalty Hall (圓山忠魂堂). By 1926 (Taisho 15/Showa 1), the aging structure was replaced with a new building at the present Kashiyama-cho (樺山町) location — today's Zhongzheng District near Zhongxiao East Road.

THE 1937 MAIN HALL

In May 1936, construction began on a grand new Main Hall of the Missionary Institute (開教院本堂), designed by architect Hatakeyama Kisaburo. Completed in November 1937, the reinforced-concrete structure combined Western architectural techniques with Japanese Buddhist temple aesthetics, making it one of the most imposing religious buildings in colonial Taipei. As the Jodo-shu Taipei Betsu-in, it served as the administrative headquarters managing all Pure Land sect temples throughout Taiwan and functioned as the faith center for Japanese settlers and Taiwanese converts alike.

WARTIME ROLE AND TRANSITION

During the Pacific War, the temple continued its religious functions while also serving the spiritual needs of Japanese military personnel and civilians in Taipei. Buddhist rites for fallen soldiers and memorial services were conducted regularly. Following Japan's unconditional surrender on August 15, 1945, all Japanese religious institutions in Taiwan were subject to seizure by the incoming Nationalist Chinese government. The Taipei Betsu-in was formally taken over by the Taipei City Government Education Bureau.

POSTWAR TRANSFORMATION

In 1948, the temple complex was entrusted to the lay Buddhist leader Li Zikuan (李子寬), who reorganized it as Shandao Temple (善導寺), named after the Tang-dynasty Pure Land patriarch Shandao (善導大師, 613–681). Under Chinese Buddhist management, the temple shifted from Japanese Jodo-shu practice to Chinese Pure Land tradition. In 1998, the original 1937 main hall — by then over sixty years old — was controversially demolished by the temple after a city site inspection on 25 March and before the heritage review meeting scheduled for 28 April, reportedly to prevent it from being designated a protected historic site. A new ten-story Mahavira Hall was subsequently constructed on the site, fundamentally altering the site's colonial-era character.

THE SITE TODAY

Shandao Temple remains one of Taipei's most prominent Buddhist institutions, located at No. 23, Section 1, Zhongxiao East Road. The adjacent Taipei Metro station bears the temple's name. While virtually nothing of the original Japanese colonial architecture survives above ground, the site's continuous use as a Buddhist temple for over 125 years makes it a significant marker of Japan's religious legacy in Taiwan and the complex processes of cultural transformation that followed decolonization.