The Taiwan Buddhist Association, an Organization of Japanese Buddhist Groups in Taiwan during the Time of Japanese Rule

Abstract

In 1895, Taiwan became a colony of Japan. Buddhist monks followed the Japanese army to Taiwan, and thus Japanese Buddhism was also introduced to Taiwan. In 1896, Sasaki Chinryū 佐佐木珍龍 （1865-1934）, a monk of the Sōtō sect, founded the Dainippon Taiwan Buddhism Association大日本台湾仏教会to lead the Buddhist community in Taiwan. Subsequently, the sects of Buddhism in Japan moved from competing with each other in preaching to cooperating with each other, and the Taiwan Buddhist Association台湾仏教会was thus established in 1902. This paper explores the background and reasons for the establishment of the Taiwan Buddhist Association. It also discusses the publication of the official magazine of the Association, Taiwan Kyōhō 台湾教報, as well as the operation of the charity project Taiwan Orphanage.