Journey in Kaohsiung - Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum

Built on a hill in Dashu District, Kaohsiung, the Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum is a truly enormous place. At the entrance of the first building, you can obtain a map of the museum, which is really helpful for deciding where to go. When we visited, some of the eight towers were closed, so we didn't have the chance to explore every tower since it would have taken too much time. However, if you are interested in Buddhism, you can learn a lot here. We spent over an hour in the museum, but due to the extremely hot weather, we didn't see much. I wouldn't recommend visiting during the summer as it can be quite exhausting.

Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum (佛光山佛陀紀念館)

The Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum is located in Dashu District, Kaohsiung. It was inaugurated in 2011 after a nine-year construction period, with the foundation stone being laid in 2003. In 1998, Master Xingyun traveled to Bodh Gaya, India, to propagate the Three Universal Truths. At that time, the Tibetan Dalai Lama, Kunga Dorje Rinpoche, recognized that Fo Guang Shan had long been promoting cultural exchange between Buddhism and the Han people, and had established the Chinese Sino-Tibetan Cultural Association. It had also organized the World Buddhist Conference and established the International Buddhist Progress Society, making remarkable contributions to the promotion of Buddhism worldwide. The Dalai Lama expressed his wish to entrust the preservation of the Buddha's tooth relic, which he had cherished for nearly 30 years, to a pavilion in Taiwan to carry forward the Dharma. Thus, the museum was established to house this precious religious relic. Master Xingyun has always adhered to the principle of "people-oriented" lifelong education, making the museum the most comprehensive and distinctive in its field.

The Buddha Memorial Hall serves as the core of the museum and embodies the values of giving, precepts, patience, diligence, concentration, and wisdom. It aims to foster literature, research, education, exploration, public services, leisure, and sightseeing. In one year alone, nearly 10 million people visit the museum.

The Buddha Memorial Hall consists of four permanent exhibitions and four exhibition halls. It also houses a professional performance theater called "Da Jue Tang," which can accommodate 1,500 people. The public can enjoy various art performances there. In order to build the 48-story pagoda, a special exhibition area called the "Reconstruction of Buddhist Pagoda" was designed to replicate the Famen Temple in Shaanxi, showcasing cultural relics from the pagoda. The "Countdown to the Gate of the Pagoda" was designed to allow visitors to experience the passage of time and space.

Covering a total area of 100 hectares, the Buddha Museum's design went through more than 100 iterations, with the final layout featuring a grand main building in the front, a large Buddha statue in the rear, a spiritual mountain in the south, and a garden in the north. The main building is situated on the central axis and is accompanied by the "Ri Jing Hall," "Eight Towers," "Millions of Photographs," "Bodhi Square," the Fo Guang Shan Buddha Memorial Museum, and the "Fo Guang Buddha."

Lijing Hall 

Lijing Hall is located at the entrance of the museum. Its name is derived from the blessings of the Buddhas. It is a three-story building with a basement. Inside the hall, there are facilities such as a water feature, a guest hall, an international service desk, off-campus teaching facilities, group guide services, foreign language guide services, currency exchange, a nursery room, restrooms, exhibition areas, a gourmet area, a Buddhist art gallery, and a gift area.

In front of the hall's entrance, there are two statues. The elephant on the right represents the Buddha's birth, symbolizing the white elephant that accompanied his mother Queen Maya. The lion on the left represents the Buddha's wisdom, signifying the enlightened understanding of the Buddha's teachings.

The meaning of eight towers 

In front of the museum, there are eight towers with different functions, symbolizing the fundamental teachings of Buddhism. The eight towers share the same square, seven-story pavilion design, standing at a height of 37 meters. They have reinforced concrete structures, with yellow sandstone on the base, small marble for the outer walls, flying bird roof tiles, and stone railings.

The first tower represents humanistic Buddhism. Master Xingyun stated, "All teachings that contribute to the promotion of a happy life are humanistic Buddhism." This tower serves as a multifunctional space for meetings, events, courses, volunteer workshops, education, training, and can be borrowed by schools and groups at all levels.

The second tower is dedicated to Sanhao Children's Hall, which is based on the Three Acts of Goodness advocated by Master Xingyun: "do good deeds, speak good words, and think good thoughts." The design of this tower incorporates interactive technology and games for children.

The third tower represents "good deeds, good words, and good thoughts through the body, speech, and mind." This tower functions as a collaborative office, featuring a conference room and a reception room. It serves as a modern and versatile space.

The fourth tower serves as a cultural square, providing a space for the public to immerse themselves in the world of books and enjoy tranquility. Master Xingyun encourages readers with four phrases. This tower also includes a children's section, offering an ideal learning environment for families and children.

The fifth tower represents "self-reliance, family harmony, respect for others, social harmony, and world peace." The Wuhe Tower is a "family house." It caters to various ceremonies, such as Buddha weddings, blessings for newborns, elder birthday celebrations, and graduation ceremonies. The hall creates a joyful atmosphere.

The sixth tower embodies the six paramitas in Buddhism: giving, precepts, patience, diligence, concentration, and wisdom. It houses a permanent exhibition featuring the "Public Welfare Trust Nebula Master Education Fund" and calligraphy by Master Xingyun, as well as a 3D film.

The seventh tower serves as a guesthouse, providing visitors with a place to rest, have tea, and engage in conversations.

The eighth tower represents the Noble Eightfold Path, consisting of right view, right intention, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right concentration. This path leads to liberation and nirvana. The Badao Tower functions as a guest hall, where films and briefings about the Buddha Memorial Hall are screened.

Double loft

Located to the north of the Buddha Memorial Hall, the Double Loft is a space designed for relaxation of the body and soul. The golden building is called the "Double Loft" and overlooks an ecological pool filled with lotus flowers, creating a humanistic ambiance. The surrounding area, including the eucalyptus forest and ecological pool, serves as an off-campus teaching site, providing an immersive educational experience in a natural ecological setting.

The second floor of the Double Loft houses the "Tea Zen" space, where Chinese tea ceremony culture is promoted. On the third floor, there is a "Pu Jing Tang" where visitors can engage in copying Buddhist scriptures, such as the "Buddha's Name" and the "Heart Sutra," as a means of cultivating the mind and understanding the scriptures. To enhance the cultural atmosphere, the third floor also hosts the "Double Loft Masters Lecture," providing a platform for humanities and cultural activities. It aims to purify people's hearts through education, culture, and art. In this green and serene environment, the public can enjoy profound art, listening, and experiencing beauty and inspiration.

Bodhi Square

After passing through Chengfo Avenue, visitors arrive at the "People's Photo Desk." Ascending the 37 steps, symbolizing the "37 Factors of Enlightenment," which are the methods of Buddhist practice, one will face the east, with the towering bronze statue of the Buddha behind them.

Main building

The main building consists of three halls on the first floor: the Guanyin Temple, the Golden Buddha Hall, and the Jade Buddha Hall.

The Guanyin Temple is dedicated to the Thousand-Handed Guanyin Bodhisattva. Designed by Master Xingyun, the temple features a white glass wall adorned with 33 Guanyin statues created by the artist Shi Jinhui. Visitors can offer their prayers for blessings. The curved outer wall of the temple displays verses from the "Universal Door Chapter" of the Lotus Sutra, creating a serene and fragrant atmosphere.

The Golden Buddha Hall houses the Thai Golden Buddha. In 2004, the Thai royal family produced 19 golden Buddha statues to celebrate the King's 90th birthday. Princess Sirindhorn presented one of these statues to the Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum, symbolizing the cultural exchange between Buddhism in Thailand and Taiwan.

The Jade Buddha Hall is dedicated to the True Buddha, with a reclining Buddha carved from white jade from Burma. This statue represents the Buddha's nirvana image. In front of the Buddha, Master Xingyun inscribed a couplet expressing regret for the karma accumulated in the body and emphasizing the impermanence of life. The large-scale colored jade carvings on both sides of the Buddha statue depict the Eastern Pure Land and the Western Pure Land. The cedar wood carvings of stupas showcase the beauty of Buddhist art.

Buddhist Palace Restoration Hall

The Buddha Memorial Hall consists of 48 underground palaces that serve as repositories of historical, contemporary, and commemorative memories, as well as cultural relics. It revolves around the theme of "belief, life, culture" and aims to preserve and continue the common culture of humanity for centuries to come.

The Buddhist Palace Restoration Museum features four exhibition areas: "Famen Temple," "Guanyin Stone Inscriptions," "Ritual Buddhist Objects," and "Spirit Monuments." These areas house a total of 134 groups of Buddhist cultural relics.

Buddhist Festival Hall

The Buddhist Festival Hall showcases various festivals celebrated throughout the year in Buddhism. It allows visitors to experience the world of Buddhism through these festivals. The main festivals highlighted include the "Fobao Festival" on the eighth day of the Lunar New Year, the "Shu Bao Festival" on July 15th, and the "Falun Festival" on the eighth day of December. These festivals not only showcase the compassion and wisdom of the Buddha and Bodhisattvas but also reflect the belief characteristics of Buddhism and the traditional ideas and customs of the people.

FoGuangShan Founder's Museum

To provide the public with insights into the past and future of Fo Guang Shan, the first floor of the museum houses the "Fo Guang Shan Founder's Museum." This section documents the history of the development of Buddhism by humanity, covering topics such as the birth of Fo Guang Shan, its establishment in Taiwan, and the founding of the Fo Guang Pu Zhao Wu Conzhou, among others.

Buddha Life Hall

The Buddha Life Hall presents a 4D animation called "The Life of Buddha," which depicts the life of the Buddha. The script for the animation is provided by Shi Xingyun. The exhibition combines 4D theaters, murals, texts, sound and light effects, and interactive displays to showcase the birth of the Buddha and his teachings.

Dajuetang

"Da Jue Tang" is a large and versatile performance hall with a seating capacity of 2,000 people. It features a unique 360-degree circular screen as the centerpiece. The main lamp in the center represents a blooming lotus flower, and the surrounding auspicious clouds change color, creating a vibrant effect. The innovative circular lifting stage can rotate in reverse, allowing performers to engage with the audience clearly through the stage.

Four holy tower and Great Buddha

The pedestal of the main building features four towers with embossed walls. Each tower houses a Bodhisattva statue: the Great Goddess of Mercy, the Bodhisattva of Great Wisdom, the Bodhisattva of Great Hope, and the Bodhisattva of Daxing. At the highest point of the central axis, there is the world's largest copper-casting Buddha, facing east to west. The Buddha weighs 1,780 metric tons and holds the lotus print in its right hand, symbolizing enlightenment, while the left hand displays the wishing seal, representing human compassion. To accommodate visitors who wish to worship the Buddha up close, Shi Xingyun has built a "Great Buddha Platform" that can accommodate 2,000 people. Every Saturday, the Master leads the practice of circumambulating the tower with the Four Holy Towers and the Great Buddha Platform.

Forty-eight underground palaces

The Buddha Memorial Hall houses forty-eight underground palaces located beneath the main building. These palaces contain thousands of artifacts and serve as a repository of historical trajectories and collective memories from around the world. The underground palaces include 22 exhibits showcasing the significant episodes of the Buddha's life, known as the "Buddha's Lineage Skills." Additionally, the Buddha Memorial Hall features 40 lifelike sculptures painted by renowned mainland Chinese artists Gao Ertai and Pu Xiaoyu. The Eight-Tower Promenade displays 70 paintings from the "Human Painting Collection" and 14 embossed figures from the "Foguang Cai Gen Tan," resulting in a total of 86 artworks. The black granite walls feature Shi Xingyun's "Foguang Cai Gen Tan," consisting of 75 verses written in different calligraphic styles by renowned calligraphers. These engravings add to the solemn ambiance of the space.

Stone carving art in the museum showcases the beauty of simplicity and solidity. International artist Wu Rongci Hui Xing carved the eight ancestral masters in Quanzhou Baishi and the eighteen arhats in Quanzhou Qingdou, exemplifying their flexibility and charm. The Eighteen Arhat statues, which differ from conventional depictions, are located on both sides of the Bodhi Square in front of the main building.

Exhibition hall

The Buddhist Pavilion comprises four exhibition halls divided into north and south sections. The first and second halls feature three-dimensional exhibits that allow visitors to appreciate the essence of the artifacts. The third and fourth halls provide flexible spaces for various artistic expressions. The Buddha Memorial Hall promotes cultural exchanges on both sides of the Taiwan Strait, showcasing Buddhist cultural relic exhibitions in collaboration with the China Cultural Relics Exchange Center. It also hosts exhibitions on intangible cultural heritage and special art exhibitions.

To promote Chinese culture, life education, moral values, and respect and tolerance among students, the Buddha Memorial Hall advocates the "Three Acts of Goodness": doing good deeds, speaking good words, and cultivating good intentions. It welcomes students and groups from various schools, both domestic and international. As an official member of the International Council of Museums, the Buddha Memorial Hall is internationally recognized and attracts visitors from around the world, offering profound cultural experiences.

Address:

84049高雄市大樹區統嶺路1號佛光山佛陀紀念館

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Tainan Travel: Danei Tototro Bus Stop

Danei Totoro Bus Stop (大內龍貓公車站)

The Danei Totoro Bus Stop is located in Danei District, which is situated in the central part of Tainan City, Taiwan. It shares borders with six districts: Guantian and Liujia to the north, Yujing and Nanxi to the east, Shanhua to the west, and Shanshang to the south. This area is positioned at the junction of the Jianan Plain and the mountainous region. Around 70% of the area consists of low-altitude hillsides with a tropical monsoon climate. Due to the underdevelopment of industry and commerce, agricultural activities dominate the local economy. Additionally, the Nanxun Astronomy Education Park is located in this area, taking advantage of the lack of light pollution.

The Danei area was originally inhabited by the indigenous Dawu people (Tevorangh), a branch of the Silaya family. In the middle of the 16th century, the Kawan people entered the area around Zengwenxi, leaving many worships to Arizu. During the reign of Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty, the Yang brothers from Zhangzhou, Fujian Province, settled in Kailuan. As this place is situated on the inner side of the mountain, the Han people often referred to it as "Nai Zhuang" (Minnan: lāi-tsng), meaning "the village inside." Another theory suggests that the boss of the Yang brothers was named Yang Nei, so the village he lived in was called "inside the village."

In 1920, during the Japanese colonial period, "Da Nei Zhuang" was established here, under the jurisdiction of Zengwen County in Tainan. After the war, it became Danei Township in Tainan County. On December 25, 2010, it was officially renamed Danei District.

Address:

742台南市大內區131號大內龍貓公車站

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Tainan Travel: History of Salt Fields and Salt Museum

Since we are living in Tainan, we are also revisiting places we saw two years ago. This time, we came to the salt fields in Beimen. These salt fields are the oldest manual salt production sites in Taiwan with a 200-year tradition. It's a famous spot for photographers, especially those trying to capture the sunset. The place is open to visitors for free. If you don't go too late, you can also see about three workers there. Although we visited after rainy weather this time, the salt hills were covered, and no one was working there. Also, not many people visited this place this time. It still offered a nice view, but I would highly recommend seeing this place during sunset.

There are also other places dedicated to salt that you can visit in Taiwan: Sio House, Remains of Taiwan Salt Co. in Anping, the Salt Mountain with sculptures, and the Salt Museum in Qigu.

Jingzijiao Wapan Salt Fields (井仔腳瓦盤鹽田)

The first salt fields were built during the Dutch era. In 1648, the Dutch East India Company imported 20 pieces of crushed stone from China and built crystallized pools. They also opened up salt mines, although the salt produced in Taiwan was bitter and couldn't be sold.

In June 1895, Japan began to rule Taiwan. During World War I, with the development of Japanese industry, the demand for industrial salt increased. The Taiwan Governor’s Monopoly Bureau decided to establish a new salt industry in Taiwan in 1919. "Taiwan Salt Co., Ltd." was responsible for salt production, while Dainippon Salt Co., Ltd. was responsible for exporting salt to Japan.

In 1938, the company established the South Japan Salt Industry Co. and was approved to open a total of 6,000 industrial salt fields in Chiayi, Tainan, and Kaohsiung in the same year.

In 1980, the low-capacity salt fields were closed, but the overall trend of salt field area and production in Taiwan was rising. In 1980, it reached the historical peak of the area and output of salt fields in Taiwan, although it could only supply 30% of Taiwan's industrial salt demand. At this time, Taiwan's salt was subject to high prices.

Taiwan's plan to reduce production costs and increase competitiveness was ultimately a failure. The production of salt was limited by Taiwan's climate. In 2002, all salt fields were closed or abandoned. In November of the same year, the official shares were withdrawn from the Taiwan Salt Company, and Taiwan Salt was transformed into a private company.

Originally, the salt fields were established in Fengshan but moved twice due to flooding. It hasn't been relocated since the establishment by salt farmers in the north of Tainan (Beimen) in 1818. It used to be called Yongdong Field. The site was a desert until 1952 when the area was redesigned and became a central-style tiled-paved salt field.

The management office of Yunjianan Binhai National Scenic Area made a lot of effort to attract tourists to this area. They wanted people to experience the tradition of salt making and salt picking.

Salt is made by drawing seawater into salt pans and evaporating it in the sun for 3-5 days. These salt fields are made by manually laying broken debris of pottery and tiles onto the crystallizing pond. This method results in purer and clearer salt being mined. The tiles absorb heat quickly, making salt production quicker in tile-paved salt fields. The process of making salt in sand-paved salt fields is slower but can produce more salt at a lower cost.

While staying there, you can also see a few people working and learn more about this culture. Additionally, you can visit the gift shop, which sells salt in 366 colors and some food items as well.

See also: Sunset View at Salt Fields

See also: Sio House Salt Museum

 

 

Hong Guo Residence (井仔學堂)

Hong Guo Residence was built in the traditional three-sided courtyard style during the Japanese occupation period. It has wall foundations made of coral stone, with an open space embellished by the front lane and back screen. Sword lion decorations can still be seen on the gable wall. Later on, the house was bought for 300 NTD by Hong Hui and Hong Chao-bing. Hong Hui got the eastern half and the main hall, while Hong Chao-bing was left with the western half and the land beside the house, where he added another hall. The third-generation owner, Hong Zong-zhi, renovated the entire house in 2008 to serve as his residence in his old age. Part of it was converted into a B&B. An observation platform has been built on the eastern side of the house, perfect for watching the "Sunrise over Mt. Guanzai" and viewing the birds returning to roost in the evening.

Xing'an Temple (興安宮)

Keliaozai was settled by a man named Hong from Keliao around 1818. Most of the villagers are surnamed Hong. Initially, the villagers worshipped at Xingfu Temple, together with the people of Jingzaijiao. Later, in memory of their mother village, they built their own Yingling Temple in 1880. To serve as the host deity of this new temple, they brought in King Chi from Bao'an Temple in Keliao village. Later on, King Ji prompted his worshippers to exchange his place with the host deity of Bao'an Temple, an ancestor brought from China in 1678. In 1981, the temple was rebuilt in the southern style and renamed Xing'an Temple, and its current appearance is the result of a renovation carried out in 2013.

Salt Museum (臺灣鹽博物館)

On the way home, we also stopped by the Salt Museum in Qigu District. After more than ten years of planning, the museum opened in January 2005.

The first-floor exhibition room displays how salt workers worked in the salt fields in Taiwan in the 1960s. The second-floor exhibition room showcases the 30-year history of Taiwan's salt industries. The third-floor exhibition provides information about salt from around the world.

In the building, you can also find a gift shop with salt-themed products, as well as beverages, ice creams, and more.

Address:

1. Jingzijiao Wapan Salt Fields: 727台南市北門區西南郊復育鹽田
2. Hong Guo Residence: 727台南市北門區井仔學堂
3. Xing'an Temple: 727台南市北門區64號北門井仔腳興安宮
4. Salt Museum: 724台南市七股區鹽埕里66號七股鹽山

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