I. The First Abbot – Master Yi-Min

The first abbot, Master Yi-Min, whose birth name was Chun-Mu Zhou in 1875 in Chiayi County, Taiwan. At the age of 7, he became a monk under Master Zhang-Shi Zheng at the Douliu Zhen-Yi Hall, dedicating himself to Buddhism. At 16, he received the full monastic precepts from Master Miao-Di（妙諦）, the 38th abbot of Kaiyuan Temple （開元寺）in Tainan. When he turned 22, he traveled to Fukien to receive the Bodhisattva precepts from Master Ru-Ren（如蓮） at Yongquan Temple in Guishan. After three years, he returned to Taiwan and took residence at Kaiyuan Temple. In 1908, Master Yi-Min, along with his disciple Master Yong-Ding（永定）, left Kaiyuan Temple and moved to Chaofeng Temple（超峰寺）. Together, they played a significant role in the reconstruction of Chaofeng Temple and the founding of Longhu Hermitage. Their collaboration led to the establishment of the Mountain Dagang Sect, one of the four major Buddhist schools during the Japanese colonial period in Taiwan.
Master Yi-Min devoted his life to Buddhism, spreading the Dharma and guiding beings with steadfast determination. He adhered strictly to the precepts and consistently used compassionate and kind words to teach and support his disciples, embodying both compassion and authority. He is regarded as a Buddhist model in Taiwan. Master Yi-Min passed away on June 5, 1947 at the New Chaofeng Temple（新超峰寺）, at the age of 73.

II. Second Abbot – Master Kai-Zheng

The second abbot – Monk Kai-Zheng（開證）, whose Dharma name is Wei-Da（惟大）. Courtesy name: Kai-Zheng. Birth name: Jin-Zhu Huang（黃金柱）, born in 1925. At the age of 20, Master Kai-Zheng began working at the Kaohsiung Almshouse, where he witnessed the suffering of the poor and ill. He was aware of the impermanence and suffering in life, and it was at this point that he decided to cultivate the bodhisattva path. His decision to become a monk was further encouraged by the almshouse’ director, Mr. Wu, who guided him in his study of Buddhism. Master Kai-Zheng chose the monastic life.
In 1951, Master Kai-Zheng took the tonsure ceremony at Yuanheng Temple（元亨寺） in Kaohsiung, performed by Monk Yong-Da（永達）, and formally became a monk. The following year, in 1952, he received the complete precepts at the Daxian Temple（大仙寺） in Guanziling, marking the first time the “Triple Platform Full Ordinance”(三壇大戒) was held in Taiwan. Encouraged by Monk Yong-Da and other senior monks, he founded Yi Yong Temple in Baozhu Canal, Sanmin District, Kaohsiung, in 1953, fulfilling the late wish of the Mountain Dagang, Master Yi-Min.
In 1954, Master Kai-Zheng, with the goal of furthering his Buddhist practice, left Yi Yong Temple and traveled to Shitou Mountain（獅頭山） in Hsinchu to participate in the summer retreat at Wanfo Monastery, the first such retreat held in Taiwan. He then entered the Taiwan Buddhist Institute of Buddhist Vinaya Studies, where he studied the Vinaya and the Shurangama Sutra under the guidance of Elder Bai-Sheng（白聖）. In April 1957, with the support and donations from two supporters, Ma Guo (郭馬, founder of Qianguang Temple, Master Kai-Sheng 開聖) and Yuan-Yang Chen, they purchased 541.55 square meters near Kaohsiung Railway Station to establish Hongfa Temple（宏法寺）, a center for Dharma propagation. That same year, he also founded the Dalin Nianfo Association（大林念佛會） in Xiaogang, which served as a base for spreading the teachings of Buddhism. After the completion of Hongfa Temple in 1964, Master Kai-Zheng expanded the temple further in 1971 by constructing the Cie-N Lecture Hall（慈恩講堂）, dedicated to promoting the Dharma, education, culture, and charitable endeavors. Master Kai-Zheng passed away in 2001, at the age of 78.

III. Third Abbot – Nun Kai Jhong

The third abbot, Nun Kai Jhong（開種）. Her original name was born Ju Li（李菊）. Her Dharma name is Wei De（惟德）. She was born in the year 1911, in Jinbaolibau, Taipei Prefecture (now part of New Taipei City, in the Jinshan District). In an era when it was widely believed that women should not be formally educated and that a lack of intellectual pursuits defined their virtue, Ju Li’s adoptive parents prevented her from receiving a formal education. However, her thirst for knowledge made her secretly study classical Chinese at local temples. This allowed her to build a literary foundation that differed from the traditional education.
At the age of 20, Ju Li moved to Kaohsiung on her own. With no family or connections, she faced many struggles and eventually found work at a local entertainment house in Yancheng District. Because of her early studies in Chinese literature, she became fluent in Classical Chinese, Japanese, and the traditional Nanguan and Beiguan musical styles. With her elegant manners, Ju Li quickly gained a reputation as a socialite. Known for her forthright nature and sense of justice, she soon became the leading Taiwanese geisha at the Kaohsiung Theater, where she was called “Ah Hao（阿好）.” In 1933, Ju Li became the second wife of Ke Feng(馮課), a wealthy local businessman who was 34 years old at the time. In 1950, when Ke Feng passed away at the age of 51 due to illness, Ju Li, at the age of 40, was devastated by his death and decided to remain vow of chastity after husband’s death, retreating from the public eye and distancing herself from the social and business circles she had once been a part of. Before he passed, Ke Feng left Ju Li a final message: “You are an extraordinarily intelligent person. Do whatever you feel you should do. It is not necessary to ask me.”
Ju Li was a skilled businesswoman with a bold and straightforward character. She was known for her generosity, often donating large sums, around 100,000 NT dollars, to support those in need and help with social welfare. Her philanthropic efforts earned her recognition and respect from various fields of society, making her a prominent figure in both the social and financial circles of Kaohsiung.
In 1954, when Master Kai-Zheng, the abbot of Yi Yong Temple, traveled north of taiwan to continue his studies, the temple was temporarily managed by Ma Guo. However, Ma Guo, due to his business commitments, was unable to devote himself fully to the temple’s management. Moreover, the temple was facing significant financial difficulties. As a result, later that year, Qing-tai Lan(藍清泰) organized a meeting to discuss the matter and decided to invite Ju Li to take over as the temple’s head. Despite her comfortable financial situation, Ju Li chose to dedicate herself to the temple in the remote area of Baozhu Canal, which had very few buildings and limited resources like water and electricity. Under these tough conditions, she made a vow to devote herself to Buddhist practice and put in great effort in the temple.
On October 24, 1962, Ju Li, given her Dharma name Kai-Zhong, was formally ordained as a Buddhist nun under Master Long-Dao (Yong-Long隆道；永隆) at Chaofeng Temple on Mount Dagang, Alian Township in Kaohsiung. She became the real nun and her decision to take the monastic vows reflected her deep commitment to a life of service and devotion to Yi Yong Temple. Ju Li was known for her remarkable achievements. She gained great respect within Kaohsiung’s women’s community and built a successful career in finance. She also ran for provincial office. However, after dedicating herself to Buddhist practice, she performed countless acts of charity, including donations that totaled over 100 million NT dollars. She dedicated all of her life savings to the Buddha. Master Kai-Zhong passed away peacefully in 2004 at the age of 94.

IV. Fourth Abbot (Current Abbot) – Master Yuan Ding

The current abbot of the temple, Master Yuan Ding（圓定）, Dharma name Fa Jie（法戒）, is a Bhikshu. His original name was Gui-Fu Yang（楊貴富）in Kaohsiung City in 1975. In 2002, he was ordained as a Bhikshu at Ziyun Temple（金龍山紫雲寺） on Mount Jinlong under the guidance of monk Chuan Feng（傳豐）. The following year, in 2003, he received his full ordination at Shandao Temple(善島寺) in Taipei, from monk Zhong Da（中大）. Master Yuan Ding is known for his upright character and balanced approach to life, earning the respect and trust of senior Bhikshu in the Yi Yong Dharma lineage. He is skilled in chanting and Buddhist hymns, with a deep, resonant voice that adds grace and solemnity to his rituals. He is frequently called upon to serve as an important Vajra Master in major Buddhist ceremonies.
In 2014, when Mr. Jin-hui Yan（顏金輝） transferred the management responsibilities, considering that Master Kai Jhong had passed away ten years and the temple was without an abbot, due to favorable circumstances, Master Yuan Ding from Mount Jinlong Ziyun Temple, which also belongs to the Yi Yong Dharma lineage, was respectfully invited to serve as the temple’s spiritual guide. According to the Master’s recollection, before he was shaved to become a monk, he had visited Yi Yong Temple many times with his father to recite sutras, and Master Kai Jhong always warmly offered him peanut-flavored Guonong milk, a gesture that left a deep impression on him. After many years of serving as the temple’s spiritual guide and presiding over various ceremonies, the temple’s manager, Ms. Hui-ying Yan（顏惠瑩）, officially appointed Master Yuan Ding as the fourth abbot of the temple in August 2021, to jointly oversee the temple’s Dharma activities, ceremonies, and other events.