PO LIN MONASTERY

Description

Essentials about the Po Lin Monastery in brief

Po Lin Monastery once stood lonely in the lush mountain landscape of Lantau Island. Today, it is one of Hong Kong’s most popular sights, not because of the monastery itself, but because of the Tian Tan Buddha, the world’s largest seated bronze Buddha statue, sitting right next to it.

The history of the Po Lin Monastery

Po Lin Monastery was founded in 1906 by three Buddhist monks from Jiangsu Province in China. Originally it was called only “Tai Mao Pung” (The Great Lodge) and got its present name only in 1924. The name “Po Lin” can be translated roughly as “precious lotus”. The lotus flower is a symbol of purity in Buddhism. The year 1993 finally put the monastery on the world tourist map. In that year, the gigantic Tian Tan Buddha was erected in the immediate vicinity of the monastery. Since then, Buddhists from all over Asia also make pilgrimages to the Po Lin Monastery.

The buildings of the Po Lin Monastery

The monastery today consists of a number of different buildings. Those who enter the monastery grounds first encounter the newer buildings; the older ones are located in the rear part of the grounds. The most imposing new building of recent years is the so-called Hall of the Ten Thousand Buddhas. The huge palatial complex houses a variety of rooms, such as a Buddha shrine, an exhibition hall for Buddhist relics, a meditation hall and a library for Buddhist scriptures.

The Great Hall of the monastery is a must-see. It houses three Buddha statues symbolizing the three lives of Buddha – past, present and future. The ceilings of the main temple are also worth a look for their painting and lamps. When visiting Po Lin Monastery, one should also not miss walking through the paradisiacal monastery garden. It is certainly one of the most beautiful gardens in Hong Kong. And if you are hungry, we recommend the monastery’s vegan restaurant, where you can have an excellent lunch.

Getting to the Po Lin Monastery

By the way, the easiest (and also most spectacular) way to Po Lin Monastery is the Ngong Ping 360 cable car, which takes you directly from Tung Chung district in the valley to the Ngong Ping Plateau, where the monastery and the Tian Tan Buddha are located.