Jian Qingxiu Temple

The Jian Township of Hualien is originally known as “Cikasuan,” meaning "the place with lots of woods" in the Amis language. During the Japanese Colonial Era, the government hired the Amis aborigines from the Cikasuan tribe (七腳川社) to handle the Truku people (太魯閣族) at the time. However, in response to long-term oppression by the colonial Japanese forces, the Cikasuan tribesmen rose up against the Japanese policemen during the Cikasuan Incident (七腳川事件) in 1908.

After the incident, the colonizers repurposed the land of the Cikasuan tribe for a Japanese immigrant village, hoping that these Japanese could help educate the indigenous people of Taiwan. Most of the immigrants were from Yoshino (吉野町), so the village was accordingly named Jiye Village (吉野村). In 1917, a temple was built up to serve as a center of faith among locals where they find support and sustenance. In 1948, Yoshino was renamed Jian (吉安), and this religious center has been officially named Jian Qingxiu Temple ever since then.

The serene Zen Jian Qingxiu Temple is based on a traditional Japanese method of timber construction. It is also the best-preserved Japanese temple in eastern Taiwan, drawing in a significant number of curious Japanese tourists.