Under Master Hsing Yun's grand wish of "promoting Buddhism through education," the Foguangshan Buddha Memorial Hall is not only a temple of faith but also an important base for promoting life education and environmental education. The hall actively creates a park that integrates natural ecological landscapes, making it an excellent choice for off-campus teaching and family outings. Among them, the "Buddhist Botanical Garden" promoted by the Foguangshan Buddha Memorial Hall in collaboration with the Ku Yen Cho-yun Plant Conservation Center in 2021 is not only for preserving and displaying precious plants in Buddhist traditions, but also an initiative to trace history and connect with the wisdom of ancient sages.
The planning of the Buddhist Botanical Garden has deep historical and academic roots. The selection and planting of its plants are based on ancient texts such as Master Faxian's "A Record of Buddhist Kingdoms" from the Tang Dynasty, Master Xuanzang's "Great Tang Records on the Western Regions," and "The Sounds and Meanings of All Sutras," while also referencing traditional medical theories such as Ayurveda. Following the records in these texts, the garden is divided into areas such as "Master Xuanzang District," "Twin Pavilions," "Jetavana," and "Camphor Tree Grove," where relevant plants are planted in sequence to recreate the Buddhist vegetation landscapes described in the ancient texts.
The "Birthplace of the Buddha – Lumbini Garden" within the park is a highly educational exhibition space. The real Lumbini Garden is the birthplace of Shakyamuni Buddha, the founder of Buddhism, located in present-day Nepal. According to Buddhist scriptures, Queen Maya gave birth to Prince Siddhartha under the Ashoka tree here. After his birth, the prince displayed extraordinary auspicious signs, taking seven steps in each of the four directions, with lotuses blooming at each step, and proclaiming with the gesture of "Above heaven and below heaven, I alone am supreme," declaring his arrival to save all sentient beings. This exhibition allows visitors to understand the legend of the Buddha's birth and his compassionate vows through concrete scenes. If visitors wish to learn more about the Buddha, the left rear area on the first floor of the main Buddha Memorial Hall building features an exhibition hall on "The Life of the Buddha," along with a 4D animated film that condenses the Buddha's life experiences into an eight-minute video for visitors to watch.
The recreation area in the park named "Wujinzang – Book Installation Art" was designed by renowned paper-cutting artist Mr. Yang Shiyi. Built around the concept of books, it features a slide between two book structures for children to play on.
To enhance the richness and fun of the park, various lifelike animal sculptures such as giraffes, elephants, and rhinoceroses have been installed. These sculptures not only enrich the visual landscape but may also connect to classic stories or symbolic meanings taught by the Buddha, providing another layer of learning and imaginative space.
The "Twin Pavilions" building in the Buddha Memorial Hall park, with its unique golden exterior, is hailed as "Taiwan's Kinkaku-ji" and attracts many visitors. The first floor of the Twin Pavilions houses the "Dishuifang" restaurant, providing visitors with an elegant and comfortable dining environment offering a variety of Chinese vegetarian dishes. The second floor features the "Humanistic Space Tea and Zen as One" where visitors can experience tea and Zen.
The menu at Dishuifang in the Twin Pavilions offers various Chinese vegetarian dishes, including braised noodles, stir-fried noodles, medicinal noodles, handmade dumplings, and various soups. There are also snacks such as toon pancakes, pan-fried radish cakes, and the summer favorite natural lemon aiyu.
The "Tomato Braised Noodles" offers a choice of two noodle types: knife-cut noodles or thin noodles, allowing customers to select according to personal preference. The tomato braised soup base has a rich flavor, combining the mellow taste of braising with the refreshing sweetness of tomatoes, creating layered richness. The knife-cut noodles have a unique texture, thin at the edges and thick in the middle, with a satisfying chew. The soup ingredients also include tender stewed white radish, wheat gluten, and lion's mane mushroom, showing great sincerity.
On hot summer days, the "Mango Ice" is an absolute must-try drink, with a fine texture and rich, sweet flavor, making it an excellent choice for cooling off and quenching thirst.
Buddha Memorial Hall Twin Pavilions Restaurant
Da Shu District, Kaohsiung City, Tongling Village, Qingtian Shen Road (Map)
Kaohsiung Meinong [Chang Mei Ice Shop Magic Grandma's New Home] Traditional Banana Ice, Banana Boat