Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum
Growing Together with Communities
Growing Together with Communities —
A New Chapter in the High-Quality Development of the Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum
By Venerable Ru Chang, Director of the Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum
Museums around the world—regardless of their size or scale—share a fundamental characteristic: the relationship between museums and their communities. Interaction and exchange between museums and local communities inherently form two-way, mutually beneficial partnerships. Through sincere, equal, respectful, and inclusive connections, museums and communities together create win–win mechanisms that respond to shared needs.
In 1967, the founder of Fo Guang Shan, Venerable Master Hsing Yun, led his disciples to Dashu District in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. At that time, it was a remote wilderness described by locals as a place “even ghosts would not come.” Yet the Venerable Master said, “It is enough that the Buddha comes.” He believed that when the Buddha comes, people will come as well. In this way, Dashu gradually developed and flourished.
Over the past half-century, through the collective efforts of the monastic and lay communities, a wilderness once overgrown with bamboo was transformed into a major Buddhist center, and the Dharma water, flowing continuously through time, was carried to all five continents.
In 1998, while conferring the Triple Platform Full Ordination in India, Venerable Master Hsing Yun encountered the Tibetan lama Kunga Dorje Rinpoche. Deeply moved by the Venerable Master’s efforts to promote global Buddhist exchange, Rinpoche and twelve other Rinpoches jointly presented the Buddha’s true bodily relic to him. Upon returning to Taiwan, the Venerable Master resolved to build a stupa to enshrine the relic. Construction began in 2003, and after twelve years of dedicated effort, the Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum officially opened at the end of 2011, permanently enshrining the relic in the Jade Buddha Shrine.
The Venerable Master expressed the Museum’s vision with profound clarity:
“I hope that the world will see Taiwan because of the Buddha Museum.”
He further stated:
“The Buddha Museum is a construction of history and of the human heart. It belongs to all directions and all people. Anyone who needs it may come close to it. It is cultural and educational; individuals, families, schools, and organizations may gather here, learn here, and grow together.”
These words clearly articulate the close and inseparable relationship between museums and the public.
From Community Care to Shared Growth
Beginning in 2012, to address the exploitation faced by lychee farmers in Dashu District due to post-harvest price suppression, Venerable Master Hsing Yun initiated the Kaohsiung Dashu International Fruit Festival and established the Fo Guang Shan Farmers’ Association. For three consecutive years, this initiative provided farmers with stable income. After a two-year hiatus, the festival resumed in 2018 and further expanded to include the initiative “Delivering Love to Remote Areas.” Lychees were purchased and distributed to rural schools via the Cloud and Water Mobile Libraries, allowing children who had never tasted lychees an opportunity to do so.
As the Mobile Libraries traveled to rural schools—encouraging reading, improving access to educational resources, and supporting rural education—Fo Guang Shan began hosting the annual “Starting from Compassion—Joint Graduation Blessing Ceremony for Rural Schools” at the Buddha Museum. This initiative has benefited students across Kaohsiung and Pingtung.
In addition, the Fo Guang Shan Book Fair and Vegetarian Expo is held annually, attracting school field trips from Kaohsiung, Pingtung, and extending into the Chiayi–Tainan region. Fo Guang Shan subsidizes transportation and lunch expenses, easing the burden on schools. Outstanding student clubs are also invited to present flash performances and concerts, enabling teachers and students to learn joyfully within the Buddha Museum.
Fo Guang Shan is located in Xingtian Village, while the Buddha Museum stands in Tongling Village. Venerable Master Hsing Yun advocated the concept of “Buddhifying the community,” fostering harmonious neighborly relationships through Buddhist practice. Through long-term engagement and sincere interaction, goodwill accumulated, and residents have come to feel that “having Fo Guang Shan as a neighbor is truly wonderful.”
These developments demonstrate how the relationship between museums and communities has evolved from one-way knowledge transmission into a mutually beneficial partnership—bringing museums closer to the public and strengthening their role in social education.
I. Growing Together with Local Communities
The Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum is located in Dashu District, which provides the environment and resources necessary for the Museum’s development. In return, the Museum brings economic, tourism, and cultural benefits to the district. Their relationship is one of mutual dependence and shared growth.
(1) A Landmark for Fo Guang Shan and Dashu District
With Fo Guang Shan and the Buddha Museum as international landmarks, the area has become a space for morning walks, spiritual reflection, and community activities. The phrase “Dashu’s Three Treasures”—water resources, pineapples and lychees, and Fo Guang Shan—has taken root. Local primary and secondary students have developed a deeper awareness of museums and the concept of shared growth between museums and communities.
(2) Supporting Local Economic Development
The establishment of the Fo Guang Shan Farmers’ Association and the hosting of the Kaohsiung Dashu International Fruit Festival were community-building initiatives aimed at promoting local agricultural products such as pineapples and lychees and addressing local economic challenges.
(3) A Major Tourism Destination in Southern Taiwan
Since opening, the Buddha Museum’s annual visitor numbers have grown to nearly ten million, the highest among museums in Taiwan. In 2014, it became a certified member of the International Council of Museums (ICOM) and Taiwan’s first museum to obtain ISO 50001 Energy Management System certification. In 2024, it was certified by the Ministry of Environment as an Environmental Education Facility, with the goal of becoming a low-carbon museum by 2030.
The Museum has also received international recognition from the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and TripAdvisor. From January to October 2025, the Buddha Museum welcomed over 4.06 million visitors, setting new records in Taiwan’s museum sector. Through this cultural branding, the Museum not only attracts visitors but also stimulates local industry.
(4) Cultural Exchange and Social Education
Beyond exhibiting Buddhist artifacts, the Buddha Museum hosts diverse cultural activities. The first floor features four permanent galleries, while the second floor houses rotating exhibition halls. Through long-term collaborations with the China Cultural Heritage Promotion Association, the Museum has presented major exhibitions such as Radiance of Longmen, Splendors of the Silk Road—Dunhuang, From a Mustard Seed to Mount Sumeru—Yungang, and joint exhibitions with the National Palace Museum. Immersive new-media exhibitions have further engaged younger audiences.
The Museum also functions as a social education center, offering programs such as Little Tea Masters, Little Docents, Tea Chan for Adults, and art programs for senior citizens. Through the House of Celebrations, it regularly hosts Buddhist weddings, coming-of-age ceremonies, longevity celebrations, and more—allowing people from birth to advanced age to engage freely with the Museum.
These initiatives embody Venerable Master Hsing Yun’s people-centered philosophy. Major festivals such as Buddha’s Birthday and the New Year Festival of Light and Peace attract residents from surrounding communities, strengthening the bond between the Museum and its neighbors.
II. Growing Together with Remote Communities
Venerable Master Hsing Yun firmly believed in the transformative power of reading. In response to educational disparities between urban and rural areas, he proposed the Cloud and Water Mobile Library initiative, envisioning book-filled vehicles traveling like drifting clouds and flowing water to schools and communities in need.
Since the first Mobile Library was launched in 2007, the network has grown to 56 vehicles worldwide, serving over 1,300 schools across Taiwan and internationally. These libraries carry books—and hope—to every corner they reach.
Inspired by the impact of the Mobile Libraries, Fo Guang Shan began hosting international book fairs, joint graduation ceremonies for rural schools, and talent cultivation programs. From just 17 graduates at a single school in the first year, the program expanded to 4,525 graduates from 180 schools in 2025, continuing to lay deep roots in rural education.
III. Growing Together with Religious Communities
When the Buddha Museum opened in 2011, Venerable Master Hsing Yun initiated the When Buddha Meets the Gods event, held annually on December 25. The Venerable Master emphasized that religions differ in teachings but are equal in value, and that harmony, respect, inclusivity, and dialogue are essential—“seeking common ground while respecting differences.”
In recent years, the Assembly has expanded to include global participation from Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Shinto, and other faith traditions. Multiple world records have been set for the number of participating temples, churches, deities, and attendees.
In 2024, representatives of seven major world religions jointly signed a declaration praying for world peace, reaffirming the spirit that gods and religions transcend borders. Community volunteers played a vital role in preparing meals and offerings, exemplifying Humanistic Buddhism’s compassionate spirit and demonstrating a powerful model of museum–community co-growth.
IV. Growing Together with Diverse Communities
In 2022, ICOM adopted a new museum definition emphasizing diversity, accessibility, inclusion, sustainability, and ethics, marking a new era in museology. The Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum actively embodies this vision.
From 2011 through the end of 2025, the Museum welcomed over 90 million visitors. Tailored programs support volunteers, youth, seniors, artists, and people with disabilities, ensuring that all communities can participate meaningfully.
Reading groups, youth art collectives, accessible facilities, lifelong learning programs, and multipurpose spaces allow everyone to find a sense of belonging and spiritual resonance, fostering shared growth through participation and interaction.
V. Reflections on Strengthening Community Engagement
With approximately 7–8 million visitors annually from 147 countries, the Buddha Museum continues to reflect on strengthening community engagement through:
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Improving transportation accessibility
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Leveraging digital technologies to enhance participation
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Listening to diverse voices and responding proactively to social concerns
Rooted in Humanistic Buddhism and aligned with New Museology, the Museum continues to evolve toward a people-centered, socially responsive institution.
Conclusion
Growing together with communities requires sustained effort. By leveraging social media platforms, encouraging community art initiatives, and fostering co-creation and shared decision-making, the Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum has become both an international museum and an open platform for social dialogue.
Through education, culture, tourism, and compassionate service, the Museum strengthens community identity, promotes cultural industries, and creates a virtuous cycle of shared prosperity—embodying the living spirit of Humanistic Buddhism.
