Photo Essay: Guanyin of Tamsui Longshan Temple

Built in the middle years of the 19th century, the Tamsui Longshan temple is one of the five Longshan Temples in Taiwan — spiritual branch temples of the Longshan Temple in Quanzhou.

It is renowned for its efficaciousness, and a plaque inside commemorates how Guanyin manifested many miracles to protect the residents of Tamsui during the French naval bombardment and invasion of the 1884 Battle of Tamsui. For this reason the Guangxu Emperor bestowed upon the Temple a Wooden Stele bearing the inscription: Ship of Mercy Saving the Multitudes.

The Huayan Sansheng (Great Strength, Amitabha, Guanyin) are the middle three front statues, the three Buddhas behind them are Amitabha, Shakyamuni and Medicine Master Buddha. Other statues are mostly Guanyin or Earth Store Bodhisattva

Top large stele is the aforementioned one granted by Emperor Guangxu

Arhats

Yinshan Temple of Dingguang Ancient Buddha:

Temple of deified early Song dynasty Dharma Master (birth name 鄭自嚴). He left the home life at age 11, achieved enlightenment at age 17, and entered parinirvana during the latter reign of the first Song Emperor Taizong at the age of 82. He serves as the historic Protector Deity of the Hakka people from Fujian.

Dingguang Ancient Buddha

Guanyin

Bonus Scenic Shots from Nearby:

Tamsui Presbyterian Church

Ancre Café

Fort San Domingo, former seat of British Consul in Tamsui

Interior of fort

British consul and his family during Qing dynasty

Memorial to George Leslie Mackay, Canadian missionary famous for providing widespread modern medical and dental care

View from fort

Famous Tamsui sunset

All photos taken by Brian Bye Sheng Chung at Tamsui, permission granted for Buddhist, personal and educational purposes.