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Chaiming Temple, situated in the culturally rich Daxi District of Taoyuan City, traces its origins to 1873 when its first abbot, Venerable Xing Yue, brought back a statue of Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara from Nanyang Putuoshan and began cultivating in a simple hermitage in his hometown, thus initiating a century-spanning chronicle of Chaiming Temple. Later, with the flourishing of the vegetarian Buddhist tradition (Zhaijiao) in Taiwan, Chaiming Temple came under the care of adherents of this practice. In 1999, the temple's sixth abbot, Layperson Jiang Zhang Ren, entrusted the Dharma affairs of Chaiming Temple to Dharma Drum Mountain, appointing Venerable Sheng Yen as the seventh abbot and thereby returning the temple to orthodox Buddhism. Chaiming Temple features traditional Minnan-style architecture characterized by a single hall with four winged rooms, red walls and black tiles, painted vermillion beams and decorative ceiling patterns, and roof ridges with gracefully upturned wings. The serene and elegant compound is framed by lush gardens, reflecting a quiet, ancient charm. Recognized for its significant historical, cultural, and artistic value, the temple was designated a National Level III Cultural Heritage Site by the Ministry of the Interior. In 2013, it was further honored as one of Taiwan's "100 Most Influential Religious Landscapes." The newly constructed meditation hall behind the temple incorporates a design philosophy of subtraction, simplicity, and understated elegance. Its lower eaves intentionally avoid obstructing the skyward contours of Chaiming Temple’s upturned ridges. Utilizing elements like unpainted concrete and a circumambulating corridor, the hall blends into the background, emphasizing the historical dignity of the ancient temple. Before the meditation hall lies a natural hillock and a century-old camphor tree that harmonize the new and old structures, allowing them to coexist in unity. In 2012, the project received the Grand Prize at the Taiwan Architecture Award. Beyond its historical and cultural significance, Chaiming Temple also serves as a multifunctional spiritual space offering Dharma gatherings, meditation retreats, and educational programs. Through guided tours, cultural courses, and meditation activities, the temple has become a tranquil haven for the people of Taoyuan, Hsinchu, and Miaoli, continuing its compassionate mission of spiritual guidance and cultural preservation in the centuries ahead. Source: Chaiming Temple