Fo Guang Shan Hwei Chuang Temple Introduction
The traditional temples are often hidden in the mountains and forests, pursuing tranquility and peace, while Huizhong Temple showcases a modern style of "great seclusion in the city," solemnly located in the Phase 7 development area of Taichung City, becoming a spiritual sanctuary in the urban environment. When Master Hsing Yun first came to Taiwan, he took residence at Leiyin Temple in Yilan. In 1965, he founded Shoushan Buddhist Academy in Kaohsiung. In 1967, he purchased land in Dazhu Township, Kaohsiung, laying the foundation for the establishment of Fo Guang Shan. In 1992, he established the Eastern Taiwan Temple to serve the believers in Taichung City and further set up the "Guangming Academy" in 1996 to enhance cultural and educational development. After more than a decade of dedicated efforts from the people of Fo Guang, the number of believers in Taichung surged, and the space became insufficient. After extensive searching, in August 2004, Master Hsing Yun and Elder Masters personally inspected the Formosa Restaurant located on Huizhong Road, leading to the decision by the Fo Guang Shan Administrative Committee to establish a comprehensive and diverse modern Buddhist cultural and educational center for the believers in Taichung, which was named Huizhong Temple of Fo Guang Shan. Huizhong Temple is five stories tall, with a total floor area of about 3,000 pings (approximately 9,900 square meters), containing numerous rooms of various sizes. Huizhong Temple upholds the spirit of respecting the existing architecture and, under the wise guidance of the Master, chose to retain the original layout of the building. Therefore, Huizhong Temple differs from traditional temples with their exquisite carvings and paintings, maintaining the restaurant's original appearance and layout, with an exterior in the European Baroque style. Abbot Jue Ju said, "It’s quite interesting that the restaurant is decorated with elephants; in Buddhism, elephants symbolize great conduct, perhaps this place was originally destined to be related to the Buddha." Originally, the temple and restaurant were unrelated, but surprisingly, the restaurant space underwent only slight modifications to become a serene and elegant place for practice. A professor from the National University of Tainan's architecture department who visited the temple stated, "This is truly a surprisingly successful conversion in architecture." In 2007, monks from Chulalongkorn University in Thailand visited the temple. When they stepped off the tour bus and saw Huizhong Temple, their eyes widened in amazement, shining brightly; during the discussion after the visit, the first question posed was, "Are all temples of Fo Guang Shan like this?" Transforming a restaurant into a temple, blossoming a pure and elegant lotus flower from a bustling world, how could this be accomplished without "magic"? It is said that "where there is Dharma, there is a way." Thus, private rooms became classrooms and dormitories; the grand banquet hall on the third floor became the Main Shrine Hall, with its round ceiling creating an excellent echo effect. During ceremonies, the chanting resonated beautifully through the circular ceiling, creating a melodious and unending sound. Standing in front of Huizhong Temple, you will see several large glass doors at the center always wide open, ready to connect with those who have affinities. Upon entering, you will find two spiral staircases, a favorite spot for newlyweds to take wedding photos. The ceiling features a soaring glass skylight, and whenever sunlight shines through, the sparkling golden light resembles a world of seven treasures and glass. The magnificent atrium embodies an atmosphere of elegance and solemnity. The service desk located in the circular space on the west side of the entrance is dedicated to serving visiting believers. Why not take a walk around Huizhong Temple now? The diverse and rich aspects of Huizhong Temple are sure to provide you with a different and new experience!
