Chung Tai World Museum, Puli Township, Nantou County, Taiwán
The four major Buddhist organizations based in Taiwan are Dharma Drum Mountain in Taipei, Tzu Chi in Hualien, Fo Guang Shan in Kaohsiung, and Chung Tai Chan Monastery in Nantou. It is believed that Chung Tai Chan Monastery is the most influential in central Taiwan.
Established in 2001, Chung Tai Chan Monastery was designed by C. Y. Lee, the prestigious architect behind Taipei 101 and Kaohsiung 85 Sky Tower. Bearing a striking resemblance to a mosque, Chung Tai Chan Monastery is in fact a Buddhist temple with the height of 136 meters, making it the world’s second tallest Buddhist architecture after Tianning Pagoda in China. The whole construction costs were estimated to be around one billion Taiwan dollars.
First off, the gates to the monastery are massive. Each of them is 11.2 meter tall and weighs 5.5 tons. The 1,250 doornails decorated on these gates symbolize the 1,250 disciples of Gautama Buddha. As you move forward, you will be greeted by the magnificent hall dedicated to the Four Heavenly Kings, whose giant statues are placed at four corners to lead the worshippers. Each heavenly king has fours heads, which allows them to possess the powers of the four. The second floor venerates Gautama Buddha as the primary deity. Normally, sculptors use marble to create timeless art pieces, which is relatively soft and easy to work, refine and polish, but here the statue of Gautama Buddha is carved out of solid granite. The rose-colored granite surprisingly offers a soft glow to the solemn hall.
Epic Taiwan Culture & Adventure Route © Monika Newbound
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