Transdisciplinary-Transnational-Transcultural Conference on Design, Process & Systems

TheATLAS Tours

CHUNG TAI CHAN MONASTERY

In 1987, Grand Master Wei Chueh built Lin Quan (“Spiritual Spring”) Chan Monastery in response to his disciples’ needs for a place of spiritual cultivation and refuge. With an inimitable aura of calmness, a penetrating mind, and the ability to clearly elucidate the profound wisdom of the Buddha, the Grand Master was instrumental in revitalizing Chan (Chinese Zen) Buddhism in Taiwan. Soon Lin Quan Chan Monastery was too small to accommodate the ever-increasing number of followers eager for the Grand Master’s teaching. Following the Grand Master’s compassionate vow to provide a complete environment for all who wish to learn the Buddhist teachings, the design of Chung Tai Chan Monastery began in 1992. After three years of planning and seven years of construction, this landmark building opened its doors on September 1, 2001, initiating a new era of Buddhism dissemination for Chung Tai.

SUN MOON LAKE

Sun Moon Lake is situated to the north of Yu Shan (Jade Mountain) and to the south of Nenggao Mountain, Nantou County in Taiwan Province. It is the biggest natural lake in Taiwan and is formed by the accumulated water in the broken basin between Yu Mountain and Ali Mountain streams. The surface of the lake is 760 meters above sea level, its perimeter is 35 kilometers, the depth of the water is 30 meters on average and the lake area is over 900 hectares. There is a small island inside Jihueh Pool which looks like a pearl on the surface of the water, hence the name "Pearl Islet". After the victory of Japanese war, it was renamed "Gueng Hua (brilliance) Islet" in celebration of recovering Taiwan. To the north-east of the islet, the water is in a shape as round as the sun, so it is called Sun Lake while the water in the south-west looks like the moon, so it is called Moon Lake. Hence the combined name Sun Moon Lake.