| Tsz Shan Monastery | |
|---|---|
 Bronze Guanyin statue, 76 meters in Tsz Shan Monastery | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Buddhism |
| Location | |
| Location | 88 Universal Gate Road, Tung Tsz |
| Country | Hong Kong |
  Location in Hong Kong | |
| Geographic coordinates | 22°28′27″N 114°12′20″E / 22.474203°N 114.205577°E |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | Ho Puay-peng |
| Completed | April 2015 |
| Website | |
| www | |
Tsz Shan Monastery (慈山寺) Tsz Shan Monastery is a prominent Buddhist temple situated in Tung Tsz, Tai Po District, Hong Kong. The monastery is notable for its 76-meter tall bronze-cast statue of Guan Yin, a revered figure in Buddhism. It is located in a scenic area, with Pat Sin Leng mountain range behind it and Plover Cove Reservoir in front. The monastery covers an area of approximately 500,000 square feet.
The construction of Tsz Shan Monastery was completed in April 2015, and it was opened to the public in the same month. The project was initiated by Mr. Li Ka-shing, the founder of the Li Ka Shing Foundation. The Foundation has reportedly invested over HK$3.3 billion in the project, covering costs for land acquisition, construction, and ongoing operational expenses.
In 2015, following the opening of the monastery, Mr. Li Ka-shing expressed his belief in the soothing and soul-nourishing qualities of Buddhist art. Motivated by this belief, he spearheaded the development of the Tsz Shan Monastery Buddhist Art Museum, located beneath the Guan Yin statue. After extensive planning and preparation, the museum was officially opened to the public in 2019.
Architectural Concept
Tsz Shan Monastery’s architectural style is inspired by the more solemn and elegant styles of the Tang, Northern Song, Liao and Jin dynasties, which existed over a period of about 600 years beginning in the 7th century.
The Monastery appropriates elements of nature in its planning as well. Tsz Shan Monastery is located on a hilly site with an expansive sea view to the front. The core of the monastery consists of three main buildings placed along a central axis. Each building and associated courtyard is placed on platforms rising up the hill, well defined with surrounding corridors. On another axis branching off from the Grand Courtyard, devotees are led into the presence of the colossal image of Guan Yin, passing the Universal Gate.
Throughout its halls and its grounds, Tsz Shan Monastery provides many spaces for contemplation, both open or intimate, formal or seemingly unplanned. But even inside its most stately buildings, nature is present throughout: dark African padauk wood, wavy white-grey granite, marble and bronze are the monastery's most important building materials. They are ones of texture and richness with a connection to origin.
Guan Yin Statue
The Guan Yin (Avalokiteśvara) Statue has a height of 76 metres, comprising a 70-metre-tall bronze-cast white Guan Yin statue (including a three-tier bronze lotus platform) built upon a 6-metre high granite base. The statue is coated with white fluorocarbon self-cleaning paint and is modeled on sculptures of the Song dynasty.
Guan Yin has a compassionate and graceful demeanour and on her topknot there is a small image of Amitābha, implying the blessings and protection received through his immeasurable power. In her right hand she holds a wisdom maṇi pearl and in her left hand a vase, from which she pours pure water to cleanse the phenomenal world. She wears a keyūra necklace and her clothes drape elegantly. Her body leans forward as she looks down from above on all beings, guiding them to enlightenment with her compassion and wisdom.
Vision
The Monastery has four main branches to disseminate Buddhist teachings to the grand public: Care, Institute, Art and Youth.
- Care is spread through the Buddhist Spiritual Counselling Centre (BSCC).
- Institute represents the educational activities and materials provided by the Tsz Shan Institute.
- Art is through the Tsz Shan Monastery Buddhist Art Museum’s Buddhist art Museum exhibits.
- Youth is through the Tsz Shan Youth and experiential programs.
Care - The Buddhist Spiritual Counselling Centre of Tsz Shan Monastery (TSMBSCC) is the first of its kind established in Hong Kong. The Centre is staffed with professional social workers and counsellors to provide Buddhist spiritual counselling services, assisting people in finding out the causes of their problems, help them alleviate their suffering and transforming their negative emotions into positive spiritual energy so that they can reorient their lives.
Institute - Tsz Shan Institute is a research and learning division of Tsz Shan Monastery. Bridging theory and practice, to provide systematic and comprehensive Dharma education to people of all ages, levels of education, cultures and professional backgrounds. The core mission is to transform minds and hearts with altruistic love, empower people to live with happiness, gratefulness, satisfaction and feel connected in life.
Art - Tsz Shan Monastery Buddhist Art Museum houses precious Buddhist artefacts and objects from across the globe. Through unique exhibitions and cultural activities, the Museum seeks to interweave Buddhist art and culture, and present visitors with a platform for art appreciation and spiritual nourishment. Set within a circular enclosure, this denotes the freeing of the minds and accomplishing inner contentment – a state that the Museum hopes visitors experience during their circumambulations. The Tsz Shan Monastery Buddhist Art Museum is also the first and only museum in Hong Kong dedicated to Buddhist art and relics as its primary exhibits, curatorial themes and research fields.
Youth - Tsz Shan Youth provides a platform for young people to be exhilarated by the Dharma. Through different programmes such as experiential learning and summer camp, the Monastery is devoted to supporting young people to grow and develop with a positive attitude.
Spiritual Practices
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According to traditional Buddhist teachings, tea meditation, water offering, Zen calligraphy, and walking meditation are all important practices in everyday life, reminding us of the importance of persistence in taming one's mind. Even in the face of chaos and confusion, one has to retain awareness to take care of the deluded mind. Through these practices, Tsz Shan Monastery wishes that every visitor can re-establish the habit of taking care of the mind as a way to nurture positive energy, in order to respond to the needs of body and mind in a proactive way.
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