Parks and Street Lights Office, Public Works Depar

The historic monument of the Taiwanese version of “Nishi Honganji Temple” architectural complex sits on the Wanhua No. 406 Square located at the corner of Sec. 1, Zhonghua Rd. and Sec. 2, Changsha St. in downtown Ximending, Taipei City. After completion of the renovation project by the Parks and Street Lights Office, Public Works Department, Taipei City Government, the historic site was finally unveiled with a brand new look of vintage style. In the future, the site can be linked up with the Red House as well as the tourism and recreation space of Ximen shopping area to bring trendy fashion and culture to this historic corner of Taipei.
The Taiwanese version of “Nishi Honganji Temple” building complex was built and completed in succession during the years from 1923 to 1934. It was the largest Japanese-style Buddhist temple in Taiwan. After the Second World War, “Nishi Honganji Temple” served as the Taiwan Garrison Command Headquarters, the dwellings for immigrants from China as well as from central and southern Taiwan, and the office for the Chinese Li Sect General Association, witnessing the history of Taipei political affairs, urban migration and religion. It was destroyed by fire in 1975, and disappeared among urban buildings without permits in the following years until 2005, when the historic site of “Nishi Honganji Temple” building complex reappeared on the streets of Taipei with simple landscape greening after the non-approved buildings were torn down by Taipei City Government.
After completion of the renovation project, activation and utilization of the historic site’s operation will be promoted by the Department of Cultural Affairs of Taipei City Government. In the future, Wanhua No. 406 Square will become a bright and shining new pearl in downtown Ximending by extending and expanding the Ximen popular culture zone to combine with the ancient “Nishi Honganji Temple” building complex, which has profound features of culture, history and architecture.