Linji Huguo Chan Temple

In 1900, then Japanese Governor of Taiwan Kodama Gentaro (兒玉源太郎), who himself was affiliated with the same sect, requested monks from the Rinzai school (of Zen Buddhism in Japan) to come to Taiwan, build a temple, and promote Zen Buddhism on the land nearby the (then) newly constructed Taiwan Grand Shrine (台灣神社). The first abbot who also oversaw the construction was Kodama Gentaro’s university classmate, Umeyama Genshu (梅山玄秀), at the time of the invitation, already a well known monk in Osaka.^[2] The temple was to be named later Rinzai Gokokuzen-ji (臨済護国禅寺), and it was a branch temple of Rinzai Zen Buddhism in Japanese rule period. Construction of the temple started in 1900 and was completed in 1911 (明治44年) with the original name Chin'nanzan Gokoku-ji Temple (鎮南山護國禪寺) which means that the temple was meant to help Protect the Southern Lands of the Japanese Empire. The statue of Sakyamuni was consecrated on June 21, 1912.^[3][4]

Large scale Japanese temples in Taipei include Shandao Temple, Donghe Chan Temple, Linji Hugou Chan Temple, etc., but only the main hall of the Linji Temple was preserved^[5]. In year 1984, in cooperation with the municipal government in order to expand the street, the main hall was moved to the North, and Yuenmen Street became the new point of entry and exit, and the alignment of the main hall was also changed from South-North to East-West (90 degree turn)^[5]. With this move, the old temple gate and main hall axis was altered. ^[6].

In April 2007, the Taipei Municipal Government has allocated NT$18.05 million for the reconstruction project.

Currently from the buildings dedicated to religious service only the ground floor of the Lotus Treasury Hall (please check the Temple Buildings section) has easy wheelchair access (a concrete ramp).

There aren't any steps or a threshold at the side gate of the temple which is the closest gate to the Yuenshan MRT station. It is also the same gate which is used by most of the visitors including the car traffic. The "official" Main Gate is used by less than five percent of the total number of visitors and it cannot be used by a wheelchair as it has three flight of steps.

On most Sunday mornings a more than an hour long meditation session is held starting at 8:30 am. Principally this program is only open to temple members and regular participants, however based on individual evaluation exceptions can be made on preliminary consultation and agreement by the monk in charge of this program. After the meditation session there is an hour dedicated for Dharma discussion while having tea, led by the monk in charge of the meditation class and a tea expert.

• Sunday Morning Walking Meditation in the Mahavira Hall (30 sec. video hosted on YouTube)

• Morning Tea and Dharma Discussion After the Sunday Meditation Class (5 sec. video hosted on YouTube)

• Coffee is Brewed During Teatime (10 sec. video hosted on YouTube)

The extant buildings include the Shanmen, Four Heavenly Kings Hall, Mahavira Hall, Lotus Treasury Hall, bell tower, drum tower and a pagoda.

The Mahavira Hall was built with double-eaves gable and hip roofs. It modeled the architectural style of the Song dynasty. On each of the main ridge is a tile named "Onigawara". The Mahavira Hall houses statues of Sakyamuni (center), Guanyin (right) and Ksitigarbha (left).

The Dining Hall is located to the left side of the main gate and the Mahavira Hall and is able to accommodate 180 to 200 people.