TAIWAN
While Buddhism has been one of the major
religions of Taiwan since the 1600s, the island
nation has been brewing its own strain since
1895. Back then, Taiwan was under Japanese
rule — and differentiating from Japanese
Buddhism became a means of protest. Fast
forward a few decades, and the Chinese
Civil War brings with it the standoff between
mainland China and independent Taiwan as
we know it today, as well as the fantastic rise
of Humanistic Buddhism. Now, in the modern
day, Taiwanese Buddhism is the sum of the
previous century’s lessons and values, with a
renowned focus on helping community and
society. It’s this, in tandem with the blurring
of Taoist traditions and Confucian teachings,
that you can expect to discover perusing the
country’s places of worship.
Large centralized Buddhist organizations
are a mainstay of modern Taiwan, and of
the “Four Great Mountains,” Fo Guang Shan
is the largest. Subsequently, the Fo Guang
Shan Buddha Museum is the largest can’t-
miss experience of the country: An all-in-one
monastery, memorial and museum, there are
few experiences that provide as thorough an
introduction to the religion. That, and the sight
of the tallest sitting bronze Buddha statue
in the world is certainly a larger-than-life
moment.
On the near-opposite side of the island, in the
capital of Taipei, is the country’s most popular
temple — Longshan Temple. Longshan isn’t
famous for showcasing elegant aesthetics
(like counterpart Bao’an Temple down the
street), but rather for being the soul of the
community, and encapsulating the religious
demographics in the process. This temple is
the embodiment of inclusivity: Taoist, Buddhist
and Confucian faiths are all represented with
over 100 gods and goddesses worshipped
here. Don’t let the crowds deter you from
visiting — the community has rebuilt this
300-year-old temple numerous times after
earthquakes and fires, and as a result, they’re
quite proud to show it off.
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Fo Guang Shan Buddha Temple
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