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"Farm and Zen Temple" was named by the founder of the Dharma Drum Mountain, Master Tung Chu, based on the monastic system established by Master Baizhang. It is a principle of living by farming and practicing Zen. Initially, there was only one two-story farmhouse, which is now one of the historical buildings in Taipei City. This farmhouse is currently located behind the main hall. It was built around 1971 by Master Tung Chu with his disciples. In 1975, the farmhouse was completed and put into use. The first floor was used as a guest hall, and the second floor housed the Bodhisattva Manjushri, called the Manjushri Hall. In the early days, the area around the Farm and Zen Temple was full of vegetable gardens and bamboo forests. The monks and nuns planted vegetables and harvested bamboo shoots by themselves, which were not only used for daily meals in the temple, but also distributed to nearby residents. In 1977, less than a year after the Farm and Zen Temple was put into use, the Master passed away, and he did not have much time to spread the Dharma in the temple. However, his concept of promoting Buddhism through cultural education and the self-reliant way of life of farming and Zen was inherited by the successor, Master Sheng Yen, and was gradually realized. Another historical building, the "Gate of Compassion," is located at the entrance of the main hall. It was built after the Master became the abbot of the Farm and Zen Temple. As the Master's time for spreading the Dharma in the temple increased, the number of participants in the group practice also grew, and the original space became insufficient. In 1983, it was decided to build a main hall behind the farmhouse. Thus, the backyard of the farmhouse became the front yard of the main hall, and the "Gate of Compassion" became the entrance to the main hall for the followers. Many of the current temporary buildings in the temple, such as the meditation hall, dining hall, monks' dormitory, and office, were also gradually added due to the need for space. From facing demolition to becoming a historical building: Because the Master led the practice of meditation retreats, Buddha recitation retreats, and lectures, he sparked a trend of young people learning Buddhism and practicing. By 1989, nearly 30 young people had become monks or nuns at the Farm and Zen Temple, and it had become a cradle for cultivating young Buddhist practitioners. However, in 1989, after the announcement of the "Guan Du Plain Protection Area," the Farm and Zen Temple faced the issue of demolition. In March of that year, to pray for the smooth resolution of the issue, the Master led nearly 1,000 followers in reciting the "Great Compassion Mantra" 21 times at the Buddhist recitation meeting in the temple. Soon after, he found the land of the Dharma Drum Mountain in Jinshan Township, and the issue of the Farm and Zen Temple was thus resolved. In August 1990, the Master lectured on the "Fourfold Assembly's Encouragement Words" in the temple, stating that the direction and goal of the Dharma Drum Mountain would be "raising the quality of human beings and building a human pure land." Following this, various business units of the Dharma Drum Mountain were successively established, with all offices located in the temple. Activities such as Buddhist ceremonies, growth camps, and reading groups held by the Dharma Drum Mountain were also conducted in the temple. During the growth process of the Dharma Drum Mountain, the Farm and Zen Temple assumed the important responsibility of managing and promoting all the construction projects of the Dharma Drum Mountain. The causes were always so inexplicable. The Farm and Zen Temple, which was originally at risk of being demolished at any time, was preserved properly after becoming a historical building in Taipei City, and the issue of demolition disappeared. An Eternal Field for Spreading the Dharma: After being put into use in 1975, the Farm and Zen Temple, supported by the fourfold assembly of monks and laypeople, became a major center for spreading the Dharma of the Chinese Buddhist tradition in Taiwan within less than thirty years. It later became the central hub for the development of the Dharma Drum Mountain. As the Buddhist Park of the Dharma Drum Mountain was gradually completed and put into use, the mission of the Farm and Zen Temple would enter another stage of transformation. Even though the time and environment keep changing, the role of the Farm and Zen Temple keeps changing, but it will continue to bear the unchanging mission of spreading and protecting the Dharma in every period. (Text source: Official Website of the Farm and Zen Temple)