New Year Festival of Light and Peace
To herald the Year of the Dog, the “Fo Guang Shan 2018 New Year Festival of Light and Peace” will be held from February 16th to March 16th. This month-long festival will take the theme of Venerable Master Hsing Yun’s New Year Spring Couplet, “A Family Legacy of Loyalty and Honor”, with the hope of sharing the spirit of loyalty and honor.
Holding true to the event theme of “cultivation of merit through faith, creation of a legacy of wisdom, ushering in the future with creativity, and purification of mind through arts and culture”, we welcome devotees and public alike to experience the peace, warmth, and motivational energy of the New Year Festival of Light and Peace.
Every Chinese New Year, Fo Guang Shan hosts the New Year Festival of Light and Peace as well as the Light Offering Dharma Service, while its branch temples around the world host the latter, all in hopes of providing all the opportunity to light up their own light of compassion and wisdom. Fo Guang Shan’s founder, Venerable Master Hsing Yun explains that one should “Use wisdom to dignify one’s place of practice”. Fo Guang Shan’s New Year Festival of Light and Peace unifies the wisdom and strength of all its devotees, monastic community, and Buddhist College students to, using traditional lantern making techniques, create Peace Lanterns that radiate a sense of religious blessing. Festival goers may experience the peaceful and serene ambiance as they make light offerings.
Venerable Master also says, “Even though a person may lack material belongings, as long as one has compassion, and wisdom, one will lead a life of abundance.”
Buddhism’s light and peace lantern offering represents the light that provides energizing and illuminating warmth. Hence on the first day of the first lunar month of every year, we have peace lanterns, while for all other days, we have full moon lights. Some parents offer lanterns on their children’s behalf in the hope that they will be blessed with intelligence and loveliness. Some children offer lanterns on their parent’s behalf, praying that they will be blessed with health. Some people offer lanterns for themselves hoping for a better future. There are also those who offer lanterns for the wish of world peace and happiness for humanity.
The Venerable Master once said, ‘the Buddha is like the light that can overcome darkness, the light that can provide warmth, and the light that ripens. Similarly, the Buddha’s light can eliminate one’s afflictions of greed, anger and ignorance, which have inevitably darkened the mind. It can warm our hearts and bring about our success in lives and in our future; and fulfil our character and virtuous merits.’ Ultimately, through the offering of light, we wish to bring light and peace upon the world, so that nations may peacefully coexist, and all ethnicities live harmoniously together.
Events Schedule
"Lights of Wisdom" 3D Projection Mapping Display and Lantern Parade
Buddha Museum Grand Photo Terrace→Fo Guang Boulevard→Main Shrine (participate in the Light Offering Blessing Service)
Stamp Collection/Fo Guang GO APP Stamp Collection
Fo Guang Shan Monastery /
Buddha Museum /
Sutra Repository
Venerable Master Hsing Yun’s One-stroke Calligraphy Exhibition
Sutra Repository Exhibition Hall
The Three Acts of Goodness Parade
Fuhui Home for Spiritual Cultivation→Fo Guang Boulevard
Hebei Acrobatic Shows
Great Enlightenment Auditorium
Incense Offering
Main Shrine
Light Offering Dharma Service
Main Shrine
Tour of the Shrines
Fo Guang Shan Monastery /
Buddha Museum /
Sutra Repository
Blessing Bell of Peace
Main Shrine
Blessing Bell of Peace
Bell Tower
New Year’s Homage to the Thousand Buddhas Dharma Service
Main Shrine
New Year Prayer Ceremony
Jade Buddha Shrine
Great Compassion Repentance Service
Great Compassion Shrine
New Year’s Eve Pilgrimage
Non-duality Gate→Main Shrine
Pilgrimage
Non-duality Gate→Main Shrine
Pilgrimage
Buddha Museum Path to the Buddhahood
Buddhist Chanting
Amitabha Chanting Hall
Sutra Calligraphy
Sutra Calligraphy Hall
Sutra Calligraphy
Big Buddha Terrace
Sutra Calligraphy
Sutra Repository Exhibition Hall
Tea Chan
Twin Pavilions Tea House 2F & 3F
Lantern Quiz
Grand Photo Terrace
A Family Legacy of Loyalty and Honor
Fo Guang Boulevard
Bravo@Fo Guang Shan
Fo Guang Boulevard
Transforming Delusion into Enlightenment
Fo Guang Boulevard
To See the Universe as a Thought
Fo Guang Boulevard
The Four Great Bodhisattvas
Fo Guang Boulevard
The Eight Deeds of the Buddha
Fo Guang Boulevard
Song of the Ten Practices and Cultivations
Fo Guang Boulevard
A Lifestyle of Chopsticks - Chinese Chopsticks Exhibition by Lushun Museum
Main Hall Gallery 1
Colorful Yunnan - Costumes of Ethnic Minorities in Yunnan
Main Hall Gallery 2
Where the Dream Begins Creating the World - Exhibition of Comics of Chinese Creation Myths
Main Hall Gallery 3
80 Years of Taiyang . Reaching for New Heights
Main Hall Gallery 4
Colorful Yunnan - Handicrafts of Ethnic Minorities in Yunnan
Front Hall 2F
Intangible Cultural Heritage of Finger Artifacts- Exhibition of Shanghai Artifacts
Fo Guang Yuan Art Gallery
The Exhibition of Futain Wood Carving - an Inherited Artistry
Fo Guang Yuan Art Gallery
3D Rock Art Exhibition
Dharma Gem Square (South Corridor)
The Exhibition of Chinese Phoebe zhennan Wood Carving Artwork
Dharma Gem Square (North Corridor)
2018 Fo Guang Shan’s New Year Bonsai Exhibition
Dharma Gem Square Outdoor Stage
Colorful Yunnan - Dances of Ethnic Minorities in Yunnan
Grand Photo Terrace
Storytelling Under the Big Tree
Buddha Museum Rhino Area
A Melting Pot of Artists: New Year’s Celebrations at the Dharma Gem Square
Dharma Gem Square Outdoor Stage
Street Performances Saxophone, Electric Piano, Jazz Drums, Clowns & Balloons, Orchestra Ensemble, Living Statues, Country Music, Fire Dance, Electric Guitar
Information Tower, Buddha Museum Bus Stop, Fo Guang Boulevard (Tea Pavilion, area in front of Shopping Center, outside 32 Vegetarian Restaurant, Dharma Gem Square Pond)
“Song of the Ten Practices and Cultivations” Song and Dialogue
Fo Guang Boulevard Song and Dialogue Area
Fo Guang Boulevard Fair
Fo Guang Boulevard
Creative Light Meals
Shopping Center Water Drop Cafeteria
Chinese & Western Vegetarian Cuisine
Dharma Transmission Building Tea House / Serenity Waterdrop Tea House
Art Gallery Tea House
Light Meals
Three Acts of Goodness Tea House
Healthy Vegetarian Food
Front Hall Waterdrop Tea House
Healthy Vegetarian Food
Front Hall 2F Buffet
Local Taiwanese food
Liberation Snack Bar
Twin Pavilions Waterdrop Tea House
Fo Guang Noddles and Auspicious Rice
Camphor Grove Waterdrop Tea House
Healthy Vegetarian Food
Fo Guang Building Waterdrop Tea House
Fo Guang Tea
Fo Guang Boulevard Tea Pavilion
Peace Congee
Devotees Building
Camphor Grove Tea House
Transport
- From Kaohsiung International Airport, take the Red Line of the Kaohsiung MRT to Zuoying High Speed Railway Station.
- From Zuoying High Speed Railway Station, take either the Eda Bus 8501 (義大客運8501）or the HaFo Express (哈佛快線）
- From the bus station in front of Kaohsiung Railway Station, take the direct Kaohsiung Bus 8010 (8010高雄客運)
- From Fengshan Train Station, take the Dashu Bus (大樹祈福線)
- From the Jiuqutang Railway Station, take a Kaohsiung Bus or taxi.
- From Pingtung Bus Station, take the Pingtung Bus 8260 (屏東客運)
- Summary of non-shuttle bus routes: Kaohsiung Bus routes 8009, 8010 and 8050/ Pingtung Bus 8260/ Dashu Bus (大樹祈福線）
- Southbound: National Hwy1 → National Hwy 8 (East bound) → National Hwy 3 (North bound) →National Hwy 10 (East bound) → Qishan/Dashu Interchange (turn right) → Provincial Hwy 21 → Fo Guang Shan Monastery.
- Northbound: National → National Hwy 10 (East bound) → Qishan/Dashu Interchange (turn right) → Provincial Hwy 21 → Fo Guang Shan Monastery.
Note for Visitors
- Dangerous behavior that disturbs, violates or jeopardizes the safety of others, is strictly forbidden.
- Shuttles connecting Fo Guang Shan Monastery and Buddha Museum are available for both the handicapped and seniors over the age of 65.
- Free parking is available at the Information Tower Carpark, Incense Garden Carpark, and Tongling Community Carpark.
- Wheelchairs are available for loan at the Fo Guang Shan Monastery Reception Center, Pilgrim’s Path and Information Tower, as well as the Front and Main Halls of the Buddha Museum, where strollers are also available for loan.
- Smoking is prohibited. Alcohol, non-vegetarian foods, and betel nuts are not to enter the grounds. Pets (with the exception of guide dogs), bikes, dangerous objects, skateboards, roller skates, tricycles, and billboard leaflets are not allowed in the area. There are numerous recycling depots around the premises, please make use of them.
- Paragliders, radio-controlled airplanes, kites or other flying objects are NOT allowed.
- Unless with prior permission, photography and video recordings for commercial purposes are prohibited.
- Lost property can be reported/submitted to the various Reception Centers.
- Missing persons can be reported to Fo Guang Shan Monastery Reception Center, Buddha Museum Front Hall, and the various reception desks within the premises. Unfortunately, PA announcements are not available.
- In the event of injury or serious illness, please contact the nearest staff to call for medical assistance.
Buddha Museum Main Hall Terms of Entry
- For safety reasons please refrain from touching the glass, climbing the railings, and mounting the exhibits.
- Please do not damage or take away any exhibits.
- Please turn off the camera flash lights when taking pictures. Video recording is strictly prohibited.
Fo Guang Shan
Monastery
- 2/16-3/16
Daily 08:00-22:00
Fo Guang Shan
Sutra Repository
- 2/16-3/4
Daily 08:00-20:00 - After 3/5,
Weekdays 08:30-17:00,
Weekends 08:00-20:00
Fo Guang Shan
Dharma Gem Square
- 2/16-3/4
Daily 08：00-21：00 - 3/5-3/18
Weekdays 08：00-19：00
Weekends 08：00-21：00
Fo Guang Shan
Buddha Museum
- 2/15(Chinese New Year’s Eve) 09:00~13:00
- 2/16～2/20
Daily 08:00~22:00 - 2/21～3/4
Daily 09:00~21:00 - 3/5～3/16
Daily 09:00~20:00