Fo Guang Shan - A monumental Buddhist complex and monastery

 


Fo Guang Shan, located on the outskirts of Kaohsiung, is one of the most monumental Buddhist centers in the world. The vast complex is divided into two main areas: the Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum and the Fo Guang Shan Monastery. 

The Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum is known for its 40-meter-tall seated Buddha statue, with a total height of 108 meters, including its base. Visitors first enter a large welcome center, which features shops, cafés—including a Starbucks—and, for some unknown reason, dinosaurs. From there, they can set off on the Path to Buddhahood, a walkway lined with eight towering pagodas, leading to the main museum and statue. The museum houses sacred relics, exhibits on Buddhist history and philosophy, and various cultural displays.

Founded in 1967, the monastery serves as the spiritual headquarters of the Fo Guang Shan Buddhist order, which promotes Humanistic Buddhism. It is a center for worship, education, and meditation, home to a community of monks and nuns, as well as a hub for Buddhist studies. Within the monastery compound are hundreds, if not thousands, of Buddha statues of varying sizes, along with another quite big one, a 36-meter-tall standing Buddha statue. 

Map of whole complex and route


1. Bus stop; 2. Visitor Center; 3. Main stupa and big Buddha statue; 4. Restaurant, café; 5. Sutra Repository; 6. Fo Guang Shan Monastery complex; 7. Non-Duality Gate; 8. Standing Buddha statue; 9. Main security gate; 10. Bus stop. (Based on map of information board.) 

The red line marks the route I took, while the purple line is a possible shortcut between 3 and 5, skipping the backtrack via 4. 

Map of Fo Guang Shan Monastery


The main entrance of the Fo Guang Shan complex. 




Bus stop is inside, after the bus entered the main gate.  


The Visitor Centre and the entrance to the Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum area. 










The walk to the main pagoda and Buddha statue. 












The main pagoda and Buddha statue. 
























After descending, I returned to the Visitor Centre, but there is a shortcut from here to the Sutra Repository. 








The gate next to the bus stop leads to a rest area with a restaurant and café. 







The way up to the Sutra Repository. 


The Sutra Repository and views of the complex and its surroundings. 













This road is the shortcut from the main pagoda and Buddha statue. 



Returning to the Sutra Repository and more views. 














The Fo Guang Shan Monastery complex. 

















The Non-Duality Gate. 




The standing Buddha statue. 
















View from the terrace of the standing Buddha statue. 




Main security gate and short walk along the monastery wall. 







The bus stop. 


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