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Wednesday, June 4th, 2025

Sacred Blossoms – A Deeper Look into the Symbolism of the Lotus – Day 11 {5/30}

During our temple excursions today, one of the temples we visited was Zuoying Yuandi Temple. On the way to the temple, we passed by a lotus pond, and our gracious Professor Young informed us that the lotus flowers in the pond are actually considered sacred because they’re associated with Buddha. One can often see Buddha sitting on these lotus flowers as they’re associated with Buddhas rise into Nirvana and enlightenment. It symbolizes the moment he sheds his worldly roots and ascends, transcending above the impurities and continuous distractions of the world.  This idea of transcendence is deeply reflected in how […]

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Posted by on June 4, 2025

Wednesday, June 4th, 2025

Slowing Down in Kaohsiung – Art, Awareness, and the Pace of Life – Day 10 {5/29}

Today was a day of traveling. Moving from one province to the next, we made our way from Taichung to Kaohsiung. As Taiwan’s second-largest city, Kaohsiung has undergone an impressive transformation, evolving from a bleak industrial center into a green, revitalized city filled with lush parks, breezy beaches, wide streets, and vibrant outdoor public art. Speaking of art, one of the highlights of the day was visiting a cultural gem: The Kaohsiung Museum of Fine Arts. Home to an extensive collection of artwork spanning both contemporary and classical forms, the museum showcases a wide variety of artistic styles and mediums. […]

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Posted by on June 4, 2025

Wednesday, June 4th, 2025

Day 12, Kaohsiung – Fo Guang Shan

Today we visited Fo Guang Shan, a Buddhist monastery and cultural center just outside of Kaohsiung. I had seen photos before, but nothing really prepared me for the scale of it. It was huge!—the long walkway lined with statues of Buddhas, the towering pagodas, and the massive golden Fo Guang Big Buddha at the end. It was huge! I was amazed at how something like this could be built by mere humans. Our tour of the museum was led by kind volunteers of the monastery and a Buddhist monk in traditional robes. The exhibits inside taught us about the life […]

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Posted by on June 4, 2025

Wednesday, June 4th, 2025

Day 11, Kaohsiung – Zuoying Yuandi Temple, Sizihwan Beach

Today we visited Zuoying Yuandi Temple, which sits right by the edge of Lotus Pond in Kaohsiung. The first thing I saw was massive statue of Xuantian Shangdi. It towers above the temple, with his foot resting on a snake and turtle. Even though I wasn’t familiar with the god before, the imagery alone made it clear that he’s a powerful figure. Walking up to the temple, I noticed the detail in the architecture of dragons curled around the beams and the now familiar smell of incense within the building. Compared to other temples we’ve visited, this one felt especially […]

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Posted by on June 4, 2025

Wednesday, June 4th, 2025

Day 10, Kaohsiung – Kaohsiung Museum of Fine Arts

Today we visited the Kaohsiung Museum of Fine Arts where I saw so many different types of art, ranging from realism to sculptures to abstract art. The most prominent exhibit was the “Walker” exhibit by Tsai Ming-Liang. The video installations featured a monk dressed in red, slowly walking through noisy, fast-moving city environments—places like subway stations, busy intersections, and crowded sidewalks. He moved with such intention that it felt almost unreal compared to the speed of everyone else around him. The movements almost made me uncomfortable with how painfully slow each step was, but it also made me think about […]

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Posted by on June 4, 2025

Wednesday, June 4th, 2025

Day 10

Day 10 was a fantastic day with a variety of fun activities. We had the honor of visiting the Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum, where the largest statue of the Buddha in Asia is located, and it was magnificent to see it in person. I enjoyed the museum and our tour guides, with the intimate experience we had with the museum. I walked away with a wealth of knowledge and saw many amazing things related to Buddhism. Did you know early Buddhist temples were man-made caves? After visiting the museum, my academic responsibilities were fulfilled, and I went to the […]

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Posted by on June 4, 2025

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