The Fudo Ming King under the Ning’an Bridge in Taiwan’s Zhongheng District

【The Fudo Ming King under the Ning’an Bridge in Zhongheng】

[Zhongheng Yindaiqiao Fudo Myoyo during the Japanese occupation]

I remember outdoor teaching in junior high school,

I remember reading the comics “Peacock King” and “Myooh” on the tour bus, which left a deep impression on me. This was my first impression of Maurya and Fudo Myooh.

I remember that at that time, I had a question in my mind: Why are King Peacock and King Fudo so rare in Taiwan?,

It was only later that I realized that this belonged to Eastern Tantric Buddhism.

When I was in college, because I loved nature,

I often take advantage of the hot and cold weather to ride a motorcycle to Zhongheng,

It also becomes a beautiful memory in my mind.

At that time, we knew that as soon as the Eighth Route of Zhonghengtai passed by Jing’an Bridge, there was the Fudo Myoyo Shrine. It was dedicated to Fudo Myoyo, holding a sword in his right hand and a rope in his left hand.

At that time, I would park my motorcycle, and even if the destination was Hehuan Mountain or Guanyun Villa, I would stop by to pray for safe entry and exit. I remember one time I prayed for the entrance exam at the Zhongheng Fudo Mingwang Temple!

After the exam, I was happy that my wish came true because I happened to be near Taroko National Park in the past few days.

I asked my senior friend at the time, Brother Cai, the commentator of the Taroko Management Station, to drive to the Fudo Mingwang under the Ning’an Bridge to pay homage to the Buddha to fulfill his vow after the exam.

I still remember that day when Xiang Wan was about to get dark and went to pay homage to King Fudo Myoyo in Nakaheng:

The quiet Zhongheng is imprinted in my mind. I didn’t see any travelers on Zhongheng and the mountains were quiet. The Liwuxi Canyon with auspicious clouds is so beautiful!

Heading to Tianxiang and about to cross Ning’an Bridge

I previously shared about Ji’an Keishuyuan, and there is Fudo Mingou.

The previously shared description is as follows: Link↗

Fudomyeongji Temple looking at Ning’an Bridge under the sun

When you came to Taroko National Park, did you stop for a moment when passing by the “Ning’an Bridge”?

It is not easy to notice this small temple on the Zhongheng Highway. The reason will be shared in the following paragraphs. For example, it is not easy to be discovered due to the rush of traffic!

Fudomyoji Temple is located under the Ning’an Bridge at 183.8K on the 8th line of Yuetai, on the south bank of the lower reaches of Liwu River,

When heading towards Tianxiang, you can go to the mountain wall on the left as soon as you cross Jing’an Bridge!

And the parking area on the mountain wall of the highway is small, so it is very important to pay great attention to safety!

The Fudo Myoyo Shrine under Ning’an Bridge and Tianwang Bridge under the sunshine 

The “Fudo Myoji Temple” is located 182.6 kilometers across the road, next to the “Tianwang Bridge”, a small bridge below the Ning’an Bridge. There are different opinions on its origin, and it existed during the Japanese colonial period. However, due to a nearby rockfall in 2014, the Fudo Mingwang Temple was damaged. Later, I heard that the statue had been moved to Kangle Village, Xincheng Township, Hualien.

The old bridge with a red body that we see so far was built in the early days of the development of the Zhongheng Highway. With a total length of 82 meters, it was the longest single-hole bridge in Taiwan at that time. Later, the traffic volume of the cross-traffic increased day by day, and the old bridge could not carry traffic in both directions, so it was not enough for use! In 1978, the government built a new cantilevered cement bridge next to the old bridge. The old bridge was not demolished, so the old and new bridges coexisted!

For historical origins and changes, please refer to the following website:

https://m.facebook.com/groups/1382428951869364/permalink/2935553243223586/

Very clear!

The introduction to “Tianhuo Temple Fudo Myooh” was written by a retired Taipower employee. The monument was erected in December 2004.

Introduction to the inscription, it records that during the Japanese colonial period, when the road from Taroko to Tianxiangjian, known as the “gold-producing road” was opened, they discovered that there were natural springs and strong spiritual energy in the area, and the Japanese prayed for the safety of the project, that is, Here I enshrine King Fudo and worship him.

There is also a saying that when the early ancestors were building the Zhongheng Bridge in this area, they were also damaged by earthquakes or typhoons. Later, an expert gave guidance and asked Japan’s Fudo Myoto to take over, and everything went smoothly!

The temple was destroyed by a super typhoon in 1943,

Koyasan is his dojo.

During the Edo shogunate period, the shogun established a five-colored fudo king in Edo to pray for national security. Taiwan has experienced the Japanese colonial period, and there is also the incense of Fudo Myoto. There are still temples dedicated to him in Beitou, Taipei, Taroko, Hualien and other places.

Image

Fudo Myooh’s whole body is blue. He holds the sword of wisdom in his right hand and the diamond rope in his left hand. He looks up with his right eye and looks down with his left eye, surrounded by flames. Generally, they show an angry image, indicating that they will make unremitting efforts to exorcise demons and slay ghosts.

Fudo Myooh has many images with two arms, four arms, and six arms, but most of them are shown with two arms.

Buddhist patron saint

Buddhist “Taji Sutra”: Outside Jambudur Embankment, in the four directions of the sea, there are twelve beasts, and they are the guidance of Bodhisattva. When humanity is born, when the Bodhisattva lives in the cave, it is the protection and benefit of these beasts, so the twelve beasts in Han Dynasty Chen (zodiac sign) follows this line. Fudong Mingwang is one of the eight patron saints of Buddhism, and the corresponding twelve o’clock in Han Dynasty is the chicken. Therefore, people who belong to the Rooster in China also wear the “Fudo Myoyo” dharma image as their patron saint and natal Buddha.

Five Ming Kings

The Fudo Ming King, the central guardian Ming King, is the incarnation of Vairocana Buddha.

The third Ming King descended, the Ming King guarded the east, and the Tathagata Ako was the incarnation.

The army is in charge of King Ming, and the king who guards the south is the incarnation of Baosheng Tathagata.

The Great Mighty Deming King, the Western Guardian Ming King, is the incarnation of Amitabha Buddha.

Vajra Yaksha Ming King, the Ming King who guards the north, is the incarnation of Buddha.