Guandu Temple was know as the Heavenly Consort or Tianfei Temple, because the its main deity was Mazu. The name “Guandu” was originated from “Kantou” in Ketagalan’s language of Taiwanese aboriginal people. It is considered the oldest Mazu temple in Taipei, as the proverb “There is Mother of Beigang in the South and Mother of Kantou in the North.”
This temple was built in 1712, under Kangxi Era. Initial, the temple was described as the point connecting two east-west streams and flowing into the great sea. In front of the temple is a huge port. When the work wasd completed, all things converge, the waves rose to thousands of fishes like worshiping Tianhau.
During the Qing Dynasty, the temple was regularly restored. However, under the Japanese occupation of Taiwan, the temple was severely damaged. Later, the Japanese monk of the Sōtō school Sasaki Sinryo asked to make Guandu Temple a branch of this school.
After the World War II, Mr. Chen Hung-Ying, a local person set up a committee in 1953 to implement the revamp project. The front hall is for Mazu and the back hall is for Guanyin. Sanchuan Hall was expanded and Main Hall elevated. The main hall of Bhaisajyaguru was added above. At the sides of Sanchuan Hall, two pavilions, Bell Tower and Drum Tower were built. Lingxiao Treasure Hall was established during the late 1980s. And Wall of Mazu’s Miracles was implemented in 2000s.
With a history of more than 300 years, Guandu Temple not only marks the beginning of Mazu worship in Northern Taiwan, but has become a cultural and historical site, a spiritual fulcrum for the whole region.
Some typical attractions in Guandu Temple
Sanchuan Hall is the first architecture and the font hall of Guandu Temple. It obeies the layout of the traditional temple with 4 pillars and triple hall entrance. As the proverb “Entering from the dragon’s throat and exiting from the tiger’s mouth”, Green Dragon is for entering on the left and White Tiger is for exiting on the right.
The Main Hall divides 3 areas. At the center, people worship Mazu and her assistants, including Qian-li-yan (eyes that see a thousand miles) and Shun-feng-er (Ears that hear on the wind). The left side of the main hall worships Guanyin Buddha. And the right of the main hall worships Lord Wenchang.
A unique feature in Guandu Temple is the 2 pits with intricately carved patterns. God of Prosperity Pit was constructed after the elephant trunk mountain. It is for worshiping Heavenly Official referring to Great Emperor of Purple Tenebrity, and Gods of Prosperity. The other is Ancient Buddha Pit. It was located below the Lingshan Park and worships the thousand-hands Avalokitesvara with deities protecting the Dharma.
Lingxiao Treasure Hall is the newly constructed building and the highest structure in Guandu temple. It worships three Great Emperor Officials. From that, you can reach to Lingshan Park and view the Tamsui river, Keelung river and birds, also see stone Guanyin Statue, rock garden.
