Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum

Calligraphies by Eminent Buddhist Monks

This exhibition shows works by Buddhist masters old and modern. Modern and contemporary Buddhist masters in Taiwan, such as Taixu, Yinshun, and Daxing, have promoted the concept of “Humanistic Buddhism” and became famous internationally for their service to society. At the core of their thoughts is a connection of their teachings with family, society, and the general life quality of the people. These masters come from the four important centers of Buddhism, such as Fo Guang Shan, Fagushan, Chung Tai Shan Buddhist Foundation, and Buddhist Compassion Relief Tzu Chi Foundation. Even internationally, these centers’ charities and teachings play important roles and represent well-known voices in the Buddhist landscape.

During the Wanli period (1572-1620) of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), Buddhism decayed. However, the Four Great Monks of the Late Ming Dynasty -- Lianchi Chuhong (1535-1615), Zibai Zhenke (1543-1603), Hanshan Deqing (1546-1623), and Huiyi Zhixu (1599-1655) -- preserved the teachings of the movements of Pure Land Buddhism and Linji Buddhism, and revived Chan (Zen) Buddhism, blending the three movements together. Towards the end of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) and the beginning of the Republic of China, both internal and external wars multiplied, threatening the life of Buddhism. Thus masters such as Jizen, Taixu, Yuanying, Xuyun, and Yinguang all sought to protect the teachings and founded Buddhist academies to promote Buddhist education. Their legacies are now blooming across Taiwan.

In this Exhibition of Calligraphies by Eminent Buddhist Monks of All Ages, the HCS Calligraphy Arts Foundation shows 79 original works of eminent monks, and is proud to co-host the exhibition with the Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum. Starting with writings of the Tang Dynasty (618-907) and the Western Xia Empire (1038-1227), the exhibition assembles works that also span the Ming and Qing Dynasties, and the Republic of China. As is usual in Chinese aesthetic theories, the calligraphies shown here are thought of as embodying the characters of their writers. With this emphasis on human subjectivity, the calligraphies capture the life experiences of their writers, ranging from exposure to war and natural catastrophes to the essence of Buddhist teachings. Seeing their calligraphed words is like seeing the person and hearing the Dao of their teachings.