近代日本佛教與臺灣信仰的交涉：以臺北天后宮、北投普濟寺與臺北遍路為例=The Interaction Between Japanese Buddhism and Taiwan Faith: Take Taipei Tianhou Temple, Beitou Puji Temple and Taipei Henro As Samples
During Japanese occupation, Japanese Buddhism spread into Taiwan successfully. After World War II all dissemination of the religion ceased. In appearance Japanese Buddhism seemed to have vanished from Taiwan, but in reality some temples and local communities have continued their beliefs in Japanese Buddhism deities. This paper attempts to analyze the establishment of Japanese Buddhism in Taiwan by way of the physical presence of deities, through three examples. The paper also addresses the hidden existence and transformation of Japanese Buddhism in contemporary Buddhism and local folklore religions. The three examples analyzed are Taipei Tianhou Temple, Beitou Puji Temple, and the Taipei New Shikoku Hachijūhakkasho(Taipei Henro). 1. The Taipei Tianhou Temple in Ximending was known as Hong Fa Temple before the war. Kōbō Daishi expressed his wish to be reinstated in a dream, and was thus placed again in the temple to receive the worship of Matzu followers. When Japanese monks conduct religious rituals in the temple, the deity is moved to the main hall to receive homage through chants. 2. The Japanese created Tang Shou Guanyin, who was kept hidden within the walls of Tie Zhen Temple (now Beitou Puji Temple). The Guanyin protects the Beitou hot springs. It is an example of how an alien influence established itself by seeking common grounds for the betterment of the local society. After the war the image transformed into a Guanyin of general benevolence. 3. The hundred-year-old establishment is modeled upon the Shikoku Henro, starting with Hong Fa Temple and ending with Tie Zhen Temple, lined with eighty-eight statues of Buddha along the path. After the war, the statues acquired their own destinies, as their individual development was influenced by encounters with worshippers. The methodologies used are document analysis and field studies. The narrative is conducted through the dual perspectives of Japan and Taiwan, dealing with both physical temples and religious sects. The attempt is to explain how a Japanese deity transformed and became integrated into Taiwan faith through the examples of Kōbō Daishi, Tang Shou Guanyin, and the Buddha statues of Taipei Henro. In the process several points of historical uncertainties were uncovered. This paper hopes to gain insight into the parallel development of the deities through different times and spaces, and re-establish this particular part of history.
