TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — What appear to be the remains of a Zen Buddhist temple from Taiwan’s Japanese colonial era, along with a stone stele bearing the name of one of its abbots, were uncovered at a demolition site in Taichung.
During the recent teardown of a sheet metal structure in an alley in Taichung’s Central District, a distinctive building was unexpectedly revealed. On Wednesday, a stone slab apparently inscribed with the name of the temple's former abbot, Ono Hoshu (大野鳳洲), was also unearthed, according to CNA.
On Saturday, a user in the Facebook group “Old Taichung Nostalgic Memories” posted photos of a demolition site across from a KTV, showing a “strange old building” hidden beneath sheet metal. The structure featured a dome-like roof, square footprint, and a swastika symbol above the entrance, prompting speculation that it was a relic of the Japanese era.
Following an on-site inspection on Sunday, Taichung’s Cultural Heritage Department coordinated with the property agent to assess the building’s cultural value. The city has since granted the site a six-month provisional historic site designation.
On Wednesday, the property owner’s crew uncovered a stone slab measuring 170 cm by 65 cm by 50 cm, engraved with the words “Monument to Monk Ono Hoshu” (大野鳳洲和尚之碑). The Cultural Heritage Department dispatched staff to inspect the artifact and posted a notice prohibiting any damage to the site.
Site worker Wu Meng-feng (吳孟峰) told CNA that demolition work began on June 2, initially involving the removal of fencing and industrial waste. That’s when the hidden structure was revealed. On the final day of work, while clearing soil with an excavator, the team discovered the buried slab and noticed its inscriptions after washing it with water.
Taichung Cultural Heritage Department Director Lee Chih-fu (李智富) confirmed that a team had been sent to document the stone and that it may be moved to a city storage facility as early as Thursday. Formal cultural investigations are underway.
A local historian noted that the structure is adjacent to the former site of Gokoku-zan Taichu-ji (護國山台中寺), a temple dating back to the Japanese colonial period. The temple’s main hall, built around 1910, was demolished long ago and replaced with residential buildings. Historical records show that Ono served as abbot from 1914 to 1930.
The stone appears to be a commemorative monument, though its exact construction date, purpose, and historical context remain subject to further research.
Local residents said the site had long been abandoned and fenced off, with the absentee owner residing in Canada. Complaints about mosquito breeding led the city to issue a notice to clean up the area, which in turn led to the discovery.
