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Famed throughout Taiwan, the Buddhist sanctuary Tzu-Chung Temple in Taichung began as Tzu-Shan Hall, established in the 18th year of the Guangxu era as one of the late-Qing Buddhist centers in Taichung City. After the Retrocession, Japanese sects withdrew and Buddhism from mainland China entered, opening a new chapter for Taichung Buddhism. In 1955 Tzu-Shan Hall was renamed Tzu-Chung Temple. Under the successive abbots Shan-Chih, Lü-Hang, Kuang-Hua, and Chen-Kuang, the temple flourished. With a long history, the temple was first founded in 1916 (during Japanese rule) by local gentry including Lin Tong as “Tzu-Shan Hall.” After Taiwan’s Retrocession, Master Lü-Hang took charge, reorganizing the community and establishing strict discipline centered on precept-keeping and nianfo, laying a solid foundation. In 1963 Master Chen-Kuang became abbot and vowed to renovate the aging temple. Through years of fundraising he completed the Mahavira Hall, an elder-care home, and the Avatamsaka Pagoda, giving Tzu-Chung Temple its present scale. In 1971 the temple hosted the first “Dharma-Protecting Thousand-Bhiksu Precepts Ceremony,” a grand and solemn event unprecedented in scale. In 1984 the temple was renovated again, adding a lecture hall, dining hall, dormitories, and other facilities. After twenty years of effort and Master Chen-Kuang’s vigorous reforms, the majestic Tzu-Chung Temple had become a renowned sanctuary nationwide. In 1991 Master Hui-Kung founded the “Tzu-Chung Temple Cultural and Educational Foundation,” establishing a Buddhist college and the Taichung Guanyin Helpline, bringing a spirit of compassion into social service. In 1998 the temple was registered as the “Taiwan Province Taichung City Tzu-Chung Temple Foundation,” and in 2001 Master Hung-Tsan became chairman. While promoting temple affairs, he opened wide the gates of kindness, sponsoring cultural activities in the lecture hall and reaching out to the local community. The temple’s appearance is grand and imposing, its gardens elegant and serene, making it a favorite excursion spot in Beitun District. In recent years, under Master Hung-Tsan’s guidance, the temple has actively entered the community, offering classes in calligraphy, piano, flower arrangement, and more, engaging the public with a spirit of worldly involvement.