Established: Kang-Xi 29th year
The current address of Kai-Yuan temple is No. 89 Bei-Yuan Street, Kai-Yuan road, north district Tainan City. It is about 2 Km away from Tainan train station and one of the famous tourist spots in Tainan. According to the historical records, this place initially was the “Cheng-Tien Fu Hsing Tai” built by Cheng-Jing, the son of Yen-Ping Chun Wang Cheng Cheng-Kung. After Ching dynasty control, the places are then called “Cheng’s family household”, or “Cheng’s Family original households”, and since it is situated on the north side of the Chun government, it is also called Bei-Yuan, and then called Bei-Yuan residence. Ching Kang-Xi times, Taiwan Xiamen official Chou Chang Fu made some additions to the place and the County official of Chu-Loh, Ji-chi-Kuang called it “Zhi-Tse” Yuan.
In 1690, Governor Wang Hwa recommended to rebuild it into a temple, which is then approved by official Wang Hsiao-Chong with Yen-Kao Tseng Zhi-Chong master organizing the fundraising and rebuilding, and named Hai-Huei Temple; or Kai-Yuan Temple. In 1749, Taiwan county official Lu Ding Mei completed the fundraising; changed the name to Liu Huan Temple or Liu Tsan temple. Shortly after, it returned back to Hai Huei temple. In 1796, The Taiwan Military commander Hah Dang Yah renamed it Hai-Jing Temple after renovating it, and then changed it to Kai Yuan Temple. The officials conducted further fundraising in 1859 for refurbishment of the temple in 1859. RongFang Tsan master was in charge of repairs to temple in 1864.
During 1895, Taiwan became occupied by the Japanese, and the temple was robbed. After a lot of difficulties Kai-Yuan Temple returned in 1913 with Chuan Fang master in charge. In 1932, worshipper Cheng Yu-Ji renovated Tien-Wang Dien, and renamed it Mi-Leh Dien. After Yuan He master took over the management of Kai-Yuan temple: he started the Tseng Chia study, Chien Yuan Kuan Pao Ta, rebuilt the great lecture hall, Jia-Lan Dien, parents temple, etc. Master Yen Jin took over the temple from 1959, and started a Buddhist study school.
Followers donated for the renovation of the grand temple, erecting eighteen Loh-Han, built the outer three doors with walls around them, built the 10+ meters high Da-Shi-Dien in 1960. The lotus pond pagoda was built in 1966 by single donation from Gong-Lien-Jen-Shih. Currently, the temple is a heritage temple, and since it’s been there a long time, the architectural structure has already degraded. Hence the current government being Tainan City government (with supervision from the civil administrationbureau of the Ministry of Internal Affairs) has spent 400 work days in refurbishing since June 30th 1997.
This temple worships Sakyamuni. Currently, Master Wu-Tzi is in charge of the temple with 130 monks and nuns in the temple.