Fo Guang Shan Nan Tai Temple

TAIWAN, Tainan

This temple is located opposite Tainan City Hall and was built in response to local needs. It was the third branch temple of Fo Guang Shan to be established in Tainan. The building was designed by architect Kris Yao and construction spanned from 2002 to 2007.
The temple covers an area of over 11,300 sq m and consists of front and rear buildings, each with nine stories and an additional three basement levels. The facade is composed of 600 miniature Buddha images. In the front building the third, fourth, and fifth stories house the conference room, meditation hall, and art gallery, respectively, while the sixth and seventh stories contain classrooms. The rear building houses the dining hall on the first story and the Great Hero Hall on the second.
A grand staircase fronting the Great Hero Hall leads visitors from the first story to the hall’s entrance on the second story. The Great Hero Hall occupies two stories and has a mezzanine with seating. The hall has a capacity of 2,000 people. On the stage there is a 6.3 m high statue of Sakyamuni Buddha in a golden robe. Behind the Buddha, the wall is inscribed with the Diamond Sutra whose characters are individually lit. There are also 4,000 illuminated miniature Buddhas within the hall.
The use of pebble wash on the exterior of the building reflects a down-to-earth approach to Buddhist architecture. Fo Guang Shan aspires to promote Humanistic Buddhism in all aspects of its activities, including modern architectural design, such as this branch temple.