Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Chung Tai Chan Monastery (中台禪寺)

Q: Scott, aside from Fo Guang Shan in the south, are there any monestaries near Taichung worth visiting?

A: Chung Tai Chan Monastery (中台禪寺) is the second-largest Buddhist monestary on Taiwan, it was completed in 2001 and draws tourists from around the world due to its avant-guard, ultra-modern architectural style. According to the temple's website, this marvelous monastery was built by "Grand Master Wei Chuan" to create a space for disciples' "spiritual cultivation and refuge." When lit up at night the monestary appears more like a grand 5-star hotel than a placid place of worship.

The monastery is located in Puli, Nantou County, so if you're interested in religious life and plan to be in central Taiwan you may want to set aside a few hours for a visit.

More information is available here.

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