Building Affinities in Presenting the Encyclopedia of Buddhist Arts to Otago University

Propagation of Buddhist throughout art and education is one of the concepts of Fo Guang Shan (FGS) founder Venerable Master Hsing Yun. Following Venerable Master, the New Zealand team presented the Encyclopaedia of Buddhist Arts to Otago University Christchurch on 21 November. FGS NZ Venerable Abbess Manshin, Minister in Charge of South Island Venerable Juexi, Buddha’s Light International Association Deputy President Ding Lihson, Committee Member Kok Wei Low, Young Adult Division (YAD) member Damien Tan and Harold Wang were greeted by Dean Professor David Murdoch, Associate Dean in Research Professor Margreet Vissers, Finance Manager Shereen Naiker, Library Manager Margaret Walker, Events Manager Paula De Roeper and others.

Deputy President Ding started with how FGS propagates Dharma and mentioned the cause and conditions built in between FGS and Otago University that started for a period of time. In 2017, Venerable Abbess Manshin led the BLIA team to the Otago University headquarters in Dunedin and presented both the English and Chinese version of the encyclopaedia. With a warm response, FGS is presenting the third set of Encyclopaedia of Buddhist Arts to Otago University and this time to the Christchurch Campus.

YAD member Damien then introduced the origin of Encyclopaedia of Buddhist Arts. In order to promote Humanistic Buddhism, Venerable Master Hsing Yun advocates propagation of Dharma through art for the public to understand more in Buddhist aesthetics. This is the world's first encyclopaedia of Buddhist art. The content transcends time and space with historical significance and artistic value.

On behalf of the university, Dean Professor David Murdoch thanked FGS for the generous donation of such important wisdom. He believes this encyclopedia plays an important role in the research and development of students and the development of spiritual wisdom. The Dean himself has a deep relationship with Buddhism. He has seen some Buddhist aesthetics and cultural relics, and thus is even more admired for Buddhist culture.

For a wrap up,  Abbess said that the preparation of the Encyclopaedia of Buddhist Arts is an arduous project that took 17 years to complete, utilising the heart and wisdom of the FGS world elite team. It is a great work of Buddhism art and the Abbess hopes that Otago University will treasure it well. In addition, the Abbess welcomes them to visit the FGS headquarters in Taiwan and recognise more of Buddhism, which will be of great help to academic research. The Abbess continued that this year's Otago University basketball team represented New Zealand and went to FGS Headquarters to participate in the Foguang Cup getting praises from all over the world. These interactions over the years have shown deep relationships between Otago University and FGS.

The host are eager to have a look at the encyclopedia with the texts, pictures, typography designs and even the printings itself, appreciating this professional series. The Abbess also gave a detailed introduction to the Buddhist scriptures. Everyone was impressed and moved, admiring the artistic development of Buddhism. After the meeting, the school expressed its hope to continue maintaining this good relationship with FGS in South Island and hopes to have more cooperation in the future.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HgkWjIsn2uc