2025 International Forum on Guanyin Culture Opens a New Chapter of Compassion, Celebrates Remarkable Publication Achievements
The millennium-old faith in Guanyin has taken deep root in Taiwan, serving not only as a spiritual anchor but also as a gentle reflection of the island’s cultural resilience. On October 4, the 7th International Forum on Guanyin Culture was held at the Avatamsaka Auditorium in Ling Jiou Mountain’s FuCheng. The event also marked the unveiling of "The Chronicle of Guanyin Culture – Taiwan," a monumental LJM-led project five years in the making, compiled by 80 scholars and experts. The publication preserves invaluable historical records and cultural assets—both tangible and intangible—while underscoring their educational significance in the study of Taiwan’s religious and cultural heritage.
Hosted by the Ling Jiou Mountain Buddhist Foundation, and co-organized by the LJM World Avalokitesvara Association and the Associate for LJM Culture Study, Japan, the 7th International Forum on Guanyin Culture centered on the theme “Guanyin Culture in Taiwan — Culture, History, and the Arts.” The forum explored Guanyin culture from multiple perspectives — tracing its historical origins and evolution, examining its expression in contemporary arts and literature, and reflecting on its embodiment through charitable action. Together, these discussions shed light on how the spirit of Guanyin has shaped Taiwan’s landscape of compassion, evolving into a subtle yet profound form of cultural soft power that continues to touch hearts and inspire kindness.
Grand Master Hsin Tao’s Opening Address: A Call for Collective Guardianship of the Earth’s Ecology
Through a pre-recorded video message, the Founding Abbot of Ling Jiou Mountain, Grand Master Hsin Tao, extended his blessings to the forum. He noted that the LJM FuCheng, inaugurated in June, marks a new milestone in the local cultivation of the Dharma—a starting point for benefiting all sentient beings. He further shared that the Hikone Chan (Zen) Center, LJM’s new outpost in Shiga Prefecture, Japan, is nearing completion and will soon serve as a base for offering Dharma practice and Chan (Zen) learning to the Japanese public. Grand Master Hsin Tao expressed his hope that this year’s International Forum on Guanyin Culture will enable the world to witness the rich diversity and depth of Guanyin devotion in Taiwan. He also called for continued international exchange and cooperation—so that, in the compassionate spirit of Guanyin Bodhisattva, humanity may work together to safeguard the Earth’s ecology and sustain life itself.
The 2025 Guanyin Culture Forum brought together distinguished monastics, scholars, and experts from Taiwan and Japan. Among the participants were Professor Hsiu-cheng Huang, advisory committee member for The Chronicle of Guanyin Culture, and several contributing authors to the publication. From Japan, attendees included Venerable Nishibu Hosho, the chief priest of Yagoto san Koushouji temple; Venerable Sucho Takaoka, Abbot of Tokurinji Temple of the Soto Zen tradition; Professor Musashi Tachikawa, Emeritus Professor at the National Museum of Ethnology in Japan; Ms. Yamamoto Yasuko, Chairman of Shyushi Institute in Japan, and Ms. Noro Kiyo, its Director. Also in attendance were Dr. Zhou Xia, Research Fellow at the Institute of Buddhist Culture, Doho University, and Mr. Keiichi Morikawa, President of the Irago Hotel & Resort. Together, they joined this annual gathering to explore the evolving dialogue between faith, culture, and compassion.
Six Scholars Deliver Insightful and Inspiring Presentations
The Forum featured six keynote presentations followed by a panel discussion. The speakers included Venerable Heng Chuan, a member of the LJM Committee for Religious Affairs; Ms. Chen Kuo-Ning, Chairman of LJM World Avalokitesvara Association; Professor Kan Cheng-tsung of the Department of Buddhist Studies at Fo Guang University; Mr. Huang Shuwei, President of Longshan Temple in Wanhua, Taipei; Professor Chung Yun-Ying of the Department of Chinese Language and Literature, Yuan Ze University; and Ms. Chang Shu-Ching, Associate Researcher and Head of the Collections and Accessibility Division at the National Museum of Taiwan History.
Their keynote addresses offered rich and diverse perspectives, exploring topics such as the Guanyin faith in Buddhism with Ling Jiou Mountain as a case study; the editorial process behind The Chronicle of Guanyin Culture: Taiwan; an overview of Guanyin worship in Taiwan; the historical origins of Guanyin belief at Longshan Temple; the Guanyin faith within I-Kuan Tao; and Guanyin-related artifacts in the National Museum of Taiwan History’s collection.
Ms. Chen Kuo-Ning noted that the forthcoming Guanyin Cultural Chronicle: Taiwan, scheduled for publication at the end of the year, marks a first in Taiwan’s religious and cultural annals. The chronicle is organized into three volumes — Beliefs and Customs, Temple Chronicle, and Arts and Culture — totaling 1.4 million words. It meticulously documents nearly 1,000 Guanyin temples across Taiwan, local ritual practices, and nearly a century of artistic creation. From architecture to literature, music, film, and crafts, the work presents a comprehensive portrait of Taiwan’s rich and diverse Guanyin culture. From an academic standpoint, the chronicle promotes the study of Guanyin and is envisioned as a window for understanding Eastern religious beliefs and facilitating cultural exchange.
Venerable Heng Chuan opened his presentation by discussing Guanyin faith at Ling Jiou Mountain, elaborating on Grand Master Hsin Tao’s Guanyin lineage. He introduced the numerous Guanyin statues across LJM’s monasteries and highlighted how practitioners engage in compassionate retreats to embody the Guanyin Dharma. The Venerable stressed that the Guanyin practice at LJM is not a “single method,” but a holistic life path encompassing specific mantras, mind cultivation, contemplation, vows, and actionable compassion.
He noted that Guanyin’s great compassion should be integrated into the DNA of every individual, empowering each person to become a compassionate practitioner who responds to the cries of suffering. In the context of global climate and ecological crises, Venerable Heng Chuan emphasized that only through awakening the human heart and embodying Guanyin’s spirit can true harmony and peace be achieved on Earth.
From Buddhist monasteries to Taiwanese folk religious practices, and from field research to museum collections, Guanyin faith demonstrates a remarkable inclusiveness that transcends religious boundaries. Since 2018, Ling Jiou Mountain has advanced the forum series, from hosting the 108 Lokitesvara Exhibition at the Museum of World Religions to founding the LJM World Avalokitesvara Association. Throughout, the forums have consistently transformed Guanyin devotion into social education and ecological advocacy, grounded in compassion and Chan/Zen practice. During the comprehensive forum discussion, participants exchanged ideas enthusiastically, reaching a consensus that Guanyin culture constitutes a vital human heritage and serves as an essential bridge for dialogue between Eastern wisdom and the global community.
The closing ceremony featured a compelling speech by Venerable Guang Chuen, master instructor of the LJM World Avalokitesvara Association. Taiwan’s natural friendliness and gentle spirit reflect Guanyin’s compassion in everyday life, exemplified recently by the “Shovel Superman” in Hualien, who embodied the adage, “When one place is in need, help comes from all directions.” The forum series aims to continue awakening the Guanyin within each of us, so that everyone may embody compassion and the world may become a Pure Land. Attendees were warmly invited to reunite at the 8th International Forum on Guanyin Culture next year.
Hosted by the Ling Jiou Mountain Buddhist Foundation, and co-organized by the LJM World Avalokitesvara Association and the Associate for LJM Culture Study, Japan, the 7th International Forum on Guanyin Culture centered on the theme “Guanyin Culture in Taiwan — Culture, History, and the Arts.” The forum explored Guanyin culture from multiple perspectives — tracing its historical origins and evolution, examining its expression in contemporary arts and literature, and reflecting on its embodiment through charitable action. Together, these discussions shed light on how the spirit of Guanyin has shaped Taiwan’s landscape of compassion, evolving into a subtle yet profound form of cultural soft power that continues to touch hearts and inspire kindness.
Grand Master Hsin Tao’s Opening Address: A Call for Collective Guardianship of the Earth’s Ecology
Through a pre-recorded video message, the Founding Abbot of Ling Jiou Mountain, Grand Master Hsin Tao, extended his blessings to the forum. He noted that the LJM FuCheng, inaugurated in June, marks a new milestone in the local cultivation of the Dharma—a starting point for benefiting all sentient beings. He further shared that the Hikone Chan (Zen) Center, LJM’s new outpost in Shiga Prefecture, Japan, is nearing completion and will soon serve as a base for offering Dharma practice and Chan (Zen) learning to the Japanese public. Grand Master Hsin Tao expressed his hope that this year’s International Forum on Guanyin Culture will enable the world to witness the rich diversity and depth of Guanyin devotion in Taiwan. He also called for continued international exchange and cooperation—so that, in the compassionate spirit of Guanyin Bodhisattva, humanity may work together to safeguard the Earth’s ecology and sustain life itself.
The 2025 Guanyin Culture Forum brought together distinguished monastics, scholars, and experts from Taiwan and Japan. Among the participants were Professor Hsiu-cheng Huang, advisory committee member for The Chronicle of Guanyin Culture, and several contributing authors to the publication. From Japan, attendees included Venerable Nishibu Hosho, the chief priest of Yagoto san Koushouji temple; Venerable Sucho Takaoka, Abbot of Tokurinji Temple of the Soto Zen tradition; Professor Musashi Tachikawa, Emeritus Professor at the National Museum of Ethnology in Japan; Ms. Yamamoto Yasuko, Chairman of Shyushi Institute in Japan, and Ms. Noro Kiyo, its Director. Also in attendance were Dr. Zhou Xia, Research Fellow at the Institute of Buddhist Culture, Doho University, and Mr. Keiichi Morikawa, President of the Irago Hotel & Resort. Together, they joined this annual gathering to explore the evolving dialogue between faith, culture, and compassion.
Six Scholars Deliver Insightful and Inspiring Presentations
The Forum featured six keynote presentations followed by a panel discussion. The speakers included Venerable Heng Chuan, a member of the LJM Committee for Religious Affairs; Ms. Chen Kuo-Ning, Chairman of LJM World Avalokitesvara Association; Professor Kan Cheng-tsung of the Department of Buddhist Studies at Fo Guang University; Mr. Huang Shuwei, President of Longshan Temple in Wanhua, Taipei; Professor Chung Yun-Ying of the Department of Chinese Language and Literature, Yuan Ze University; and Ms. Chang Shu-Ching, Associate Researcher and Head of the Collections and Accessibility Division at the National Museum of Taiwan History.
Their keynote addresses offered rich and diverse perspectives, exploring topics such as the Guanyin faith in Buddhism with Ling Jiou Mountain as a case study; the editorial process behind The Chronicle of Guanyin Culture: Taiwan; an overview of Guanyin worship in Taiwan; the historical origins of Guanyin belief at Longshan Temple; the Guanyin faith within I-Kuan Tao; and Guanyin-related artifacts in the National Museum of Taiwan History’s collection.
Ms. Chen Kuo-Ning noted that the forthcoming Guanyin Cultural Chronicle: Taiwan, scheduled for publication at the end of the year, marks a first in Taiwan’s religious and cultural annals. The chronicle is organized into three volumes — Beliefs and Customs, Temple Chronicle, and Arts and Culture — totaling 1.4 million words. It meticulously documents nearly 1,000 Guanyin temples across Taiwan, local ritual practices, and nearly a century of artistic creation. From architecture to literature, music, film, and crafts, the work presents a comprehensive portrait of Taiwan’s rich and diverse Guanyin culture. From an academic standpoint, the chronicle promotes the study of Guanyin and is envisioned as a window for understanding Eastern religious beliefs and facilitating cultural exchange.
Venerable Heng Chuan opened his presentation by discussing Guanyin faith at Ling Jiou Mountain, elaborating on Grand Master Hsin Tao’s Guanyin lineage. He introduced the numerous Guanyin statues across LJM’s monasteries and highlighted how practitioners engage in compassionate retreats to embody the Guanyin Dharma. The Venerable stressed that the Guanyin practice at LJM is not a “single method,” but a holistic life path encompassing specific mantras, mind cultivation, contemplation, vows, and actionable compassion.
He noted that Guanyin’s great compassion should be integrated into the DNA of every individual, empowering each person to become a compassionate practitioner who responds to the cries of suffering. In the context of global climate and ecological crises, Venerable Heng Chuan emphasized that only through awakening the human heart and embodying Guanyin’s spirit can true harmony and peace be achieved on Earth.
From Buddhist monasteries to Taiwanese folk religious practices, and from field research to museum collections, Guanyin faith demonstrates a remarkable inclusiveness that transcends religious boundaries. Since 2018, Ling Jiou Mountain has advanced the forum series, from hosting the 108 Lokitesvara Exhibition at the Museum of World Religions to founding the LJM World Avalokitesvara Association. Throughout, the forums have consistently transformed Guanyin devotion into social education and ecological advocacy, grounded in compassion and Chan/Zen practice. During the comprehensive forum discussion, participants exchanged ideas enthusiastically, reaching a consensus that Guanyin culture constitutes a vital human heritage and serves as an essential bridge for dialogue between Eastern wisdom and the global community.
The closing ceremony featured a compelling speech by Venerable Guang Chuen, master instructor of the LJM World Avalokitesvara Association. Taiwan’s natural friendliness and gentle spirit reflect Guanyin’s compassion in everyday life, exemplified recently by the “Shovel Superman” in Hualien, who embodied the adage, “When one place is in need, help comes from all directions.” The forum series aims to continue awakening the Guanyin within each of us, so that everyone may embody compassion and the world may become a Pure Land. Attendees were warmly invited to reunite at the 8th International Forum on Guanyin Culture next year.