CHI LIN NUNNERY, Visit

The hallmark of the temple is the simple elegance of the dark wood it is made of. The magnificent sloping roofs, featuring a wealth of exquisite carvings, are embellished with gilded details.

Most of the large monastery is spread out around three courtyards situated one after the other. You can enter the first through the Mountain Gate.

As soon as you enter, you’ll find the magnificent Lotus Garden, a courtyard with four ponds with lotus flowers and water lilies floating on them. The lotus flower is very important in Buddhist culture, because it represents purity. There are covered porticos along the sides of the courtyard and a large variety of potted bonsais and flowers everywhere.

Now press pause, head across the courtyard and press play after you’ve reached the Hall of Heavenly Kings,

At the center this hall you can see a statue of Buddha, sitting upon an altar, surrounded by sculptures depicting the Heavenly Kings; the four compass points which protect the temple from evil.

Press pause while you admire this space and press start when you’re ready to leave.

On your way out, you’ll come to the second courtyard, where you can see five halls surrounding it. To the right are two areas dedicated to a number of the bodhisattvas I mentioned in the previous file, one with a bell tower and another featuring a particular representation of the “Buddha of Medicine”. On the left, another two halls are home to the statues of Jia Lan, the “guardian” of Buddha’s teachings, and the Goddess of Mercy, Kwun Yam.

Now press pause and head to the main hall of the temple at the back of the courtyard.

Here you’ll find five gilded statues: at the center, you can see Buddha, depicted in a seated position, flanked by four bodhisattvas, two standing and two sitting.

The construction of this hall required special techniques to distribute the enormous 176-ton weight of the roof, made of 28,000 clay tiles, on 28 cedar wood columns.

Beyond this extraordinary structure is a third courtyard, surrounded by three halls and the Ten Thousand Buddhas Pagoda which, unfortunately, is not open to the public – you’ll just have to imagine how magnificent it is!

An interesting fact: do you know why the image of the dragon is so common in religious buildings in China? Because it’s a symbol of wisdom, power and good luck.

Our visit to the Chi Lin Nunnery ends here. MyWoWo would like to thank you - see you again at another Wonder of the World!