RS100 = Top 100 Religious Scenes of Taiwan.
The "Top 100 Religious Scenes of Taiwan" encompass a hundred iconic religious sites and activities that were chosen via public vote and announced by the Ministry of Interior on Nov. 22, 2013. these sites embody the history of early Taiwanese settlers and illustrate both diversity and the island's religious landscape.
Rinzai Zen Buddhism Temple is the only well-preserved wooden Buddhist temple in Taiwan constructed in the Northern and Southern Dynasties’ architectural style.
During the years of Japanese rule over Taiwan, Taipei city had three large Japanese-style Buddhist temples with large main halls (called hondo in Japanese), namely Shandao Temple, Donghe Zen Temple, and Rinzai Zen Buddhism Temple. The largest of these was Shandao Temple, which was rebuilt as a tower block in 1981. The Donghe Zen Temple was likewise demolished in 1993 by the city government, leaving behind only a lone bell tower. Thus, Rinzai Temple became the only remaining Japanese Buddhist temple in Taipei with Northern and Southern Dynasties’ architectural style (also sometimes believed to be similar to the style of the Song Dynasty), with a hip-and-gable roof and double eaves. Being the oldest remaining wooden Japanese Buddhist main hall, it is of high value and well worth preserving.
Rinzai Temple was actually a branch of the Rinzai school of Japanese Zen Buddhism. It was given the name Chin'nanzan Gokokuji Temple, the only temple named Gokokuji (Guardian of the Nation) in Taiwan. Its construction began in 1900 and it was completed in 1911, with the opening ceremony held the following year. During Japan’s rule over Taiwan, many schools of Japanese Zen Buddhism were introduced to Taiwan. However, the Governor-General of Taiwan at the time, Kodama Gentarou, preferred the Rinzai school and chose it to administer the Gokokuji Temple. Monk Iori Genshu was invited to be the first abbot and served until Taiwan’s retrocession, after which the position of abbot was filled by Chinese monks. Rinzai Temple is located on the banks of the Keelung River. It is surrounded by beautiful mountain and riverine vistas. The temple itself, including the old entrance and the Main Hall, has been well preserved in its original state. In 2007, Rinzai temple underwent a large-scale renovation to restore the Main Hall’s architecture. Flat, black roofing tiles and semi-cylindrical convex roofing tiles were specially ordered from Japan to rebuild the roof in traditional Japanese pan-and-roll style (hongawarabuki). Construction also incorporated Taiwan Cypress wood from Cilan Mountain, Yilan County.
The container is a small round canister with magnet. Only a log-paper in it. Please bring a pen for this cache.