Central Taiwan World Museum Introduction
The Chung Tai World Museum is located in the Lotus Basin at the foot of Hehuanshan in central Taiwan, built in harmony with the mountainous landscape and adjacent to Chung Tai Chan Monastery. Surrounded by lush green mountains and clear skies, it overlooks the Puli mountain town. The Tang-style architecture built in a Chinese-Western blend resembles the grandeur of Chang'an, symbolizing the "protective city" in Buddhism that safeguards the religion and historical artifacts. Over the past 30 years, exquisite treasures donated by devotees have been meticulously crafted under the guidance of the founder, Master Wei-Jue An, and the four groups of disciples, establishing a new cultural, spiritual, and recreational landmark in central Taiwan. Entering the nine-meter-high lobby on the first floor feels like stepping into a realm of pure light and Buddhist teachings. The ceiling above the main Buddha features a square rotating design inspired by cave dome architecture, representing the Buddhist cosmology of "Ten Directions and Three Times." When light spills through the central lotus-patterned stained glass onto the circularly arranged three layers of carved Buddhas, it creates an illusion of being in the Avatamsaka World where bodhisattvas gather. This leads visitors into the realm of Buddhist art. Furthermore, the Chung Tai World Museum is the only museum in Taiwan that possesses a complete collection of stone rubbing tablets, showcasing the unique calligraphic styles of various calligraphers through the ages. Visitors can admire the timeless artistic charm of masters like Wang Xizhi, Yan Zhenqing, Zhang Xu, and Su Dongpo. An interactive area featuring wooden sculpting is also available, allowing children and adults alike to learn and create their own wooden statues through digital interactive carving.
