Fo Guang Shan Jin Guang Ming Temple

TAIWAN, New Taipei City

Jin Guang Ming means Golden Light. It was built as a branch of Fo Guang Shan between 1997 and 2002. The temple was planned for the Fo Guang Shan Devotee University, with a curriculum of humanities, arts, and Buddhism, providing lay followers with the facilities for learning and practice.
The temple occupies 1.7 ha and is built in the traditional Chinese palatial style. Along the central axis, the buildings include the main temple gate, the administrative building and the Great Hero Hall, while the educational buildings are located along the sides.
The main temple gate has a hip-and-gable roof covered with yellow glazed tiles. A statue of Maitreya Bodhisattva in contemplation is placed in the center of the courtyard between the main temple gate and the administrative building. The Great Hero Hall has a hip roof and appears to have two stories; however, there are four stories inside the building. The hall houses an 8.5 m high Buddha statue made from Burmese jade weighing 50 t. The side walls are engraved with the Golden Light Sutra. There are also statues of the Ten Great Disciples of the Buddha, illustrations of the Eight Great Events from the Life of the Buddha, and close to 10,000 Buddha reliefs.
The auditorium is located on the top floor of the Great Hero Hall and has a capacity of over 2,000 people. The educational buildings contain over 20 classrooms, emphasizing the temple’s educational function.