60 Years of Passing the Lamp,Honoring a 100-Year Legacy.

Master Hsing Yun's One-Stroke Calligraphy Exhibition Curatorial Overview

Curator: Venerable Ru Chang ,

Jan. 30, 2026

"60 Years of Passing the Lamp, Honoring a 100-Year Legacy-Commemorative Exhibition of Venerable Master Hsing Yun’s One-Stroke Calligraphy" will hold its grand opening on January 18, 2026, to mark the relocation and inauguration of the Fo Guang Yuan Art Gallery in Taichung. This exhibition serves as a tribute to Venerable Master Hsing Yun following his perfect rest, commemorating his centennial birthday. " Passing the Lamp " carries a profound meaning: the light represents the Buddha’s teaching, and handing it down signifies the continuous transmission of the Master's light from lamp to lamp among his disciples. The year 2026 marks the 60th anniversary of the founding of Fo Guang Shan. Curating this One-Stroke Calligraphy exhibition at the newly relocated Fo Guang Yuan Art Gallery at Hui Chung Temple carries three primary significances: first, to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the founding of Fo Guang Shan; second, to commemorate the Venerable Master’s centennial birthday; and third, to celebrate the completion and relocation of the 17th global branch of the Fo Guang Yuan Art Gallery at Hui Chung Temple.

To manifest the spirit of Venerable Master Hsing Yun’s Dharma propagation, upon entering the main gate of the new museum, one is greeted by a sculpture of the Venerable Master at the age of ninety. With a compassionate expression and leaning on his cane, he welcomes everyone into the museum. The sculpture is surrounded by a Zen-inspired dry landscape garden—composed of withered wood, branches, and white sand—whose minimalist imagery symbolizes the purity of the Venerable Master’s original mind, as well as the path he has traveled in his Dharma propagation, which is as immeasurable and boundless as the sands of the Ganges. Above, a Dharma wheel installation is set in place, symbolizing the continuous turning of the Dharma wheel and the Buddha’s light shining universally.

Venerable Master Hsing Yun once said that a temple is a museum. In his work “Buddhist Affinities Across 100 Years”, he mentioned, “I would rather have no place to eat or sleep than to be without an entire floor to serve as an art gallery.” Accordingly, HuiChung Temple has specifically reserved an entire floor for an art gallery, implementing the Venerable Master’s philosophy of Dharma propagation through the arts. We hope to use Taichung City as a foundation to radiate outward, illuminating the five continents and forging connections with all sentient beings.

This commemorative exhibition consists of five sections, centered on Venerable Master Hsing Yun’s thoughts on Humanistic Buddhism and this year’s Year of the Horse spring couplets. The five sub-themes are: "Broadly Developing Good Affinities," "Buddha Connection in the Human World," "Harmonious Coexistence," "Success Upon Arrival (Ma Dao Cheng Gong)," and "Writing Spring Couplets Year After Year." Through the Venerable Master’s extensive collection of calligraphy, the exhibition provides a comprehensive presentation of his character and his lifelong spirit of Dharma propagation.

Venerable Master Hsing Yun believes that what is most precious in the Buddha's teaching is "causes and conditions" (yuan). He encourages devotees to cherish their blessings, actively develop broad and good affinities with others, and understand that by developing such affinities, one will be well-received by others. Therefore, the "Broadly Develop Good Affinities" section of the exhibition centers on extending the spirit of the "Three Acts of Goodness." By purifying the three karmas of body, speech, and mind, the practice is embodied in the term "Practice the Buddha's Way." Practicing the Three Acts of Goodness also requires patience; only then can there be harmony among all conditions, positive affinities that bring beneficial results, and an accumulation of merit and virtue.

Following this concept, the second thematic section, "Buddha Connection in the Human World," connects with devotees in the Greater Taichung area. The local abbot, Venerable Jue Ju, has curated a unit featuring a collection of calligraphy works that the Venerable Master once gifted to Taichung devotees. These works include pieces such as "Perfect Merit and Wisdom" and "Compassion and Prajna." Through these simple blessings, the Venerable Master continues to sustain human-world connections with devotees who uphold the Buddha's teaching.

The “Harmonious Coexistence” sub-theme exhibition showcases Venerable Master Hsing Yun’s lifelong advocacy for respect and tolerance, aiming to create a human world of coexistence. The absence of conflict between self and others is the most beautiful state in the world. By facing life with compassion and wisdom, society can surely transform the Saha world into a pure Humanistic Buddhist Pure Land. Within this, the "Two Goods and Two Bads" verse notes: "A good heart and good fortune lead to early prosperity. Good fortune but a bad heart, the future cannot be guaranteed. A bad heart and bad fortune, one will be poor and bitter until old age." Through these rhythmic, rhyming parallel verses, one can immediately understand the Venerable Master’s teachings.

As the exhibition progresses, we reach a noteworthy highlight: a photograph of Venerable Master Hsing Yun in the act of calligraphy comes into view, set against a massive display of the Heart Sutra, imbuing the space with an atmosphere of tranquility and peace. Facing Venerable Master Hsing Yun is another monumental work, the "Song of the Ten Practices." The Master’s "Song of the Ten Practices" is the finest embodiment of the principle that "Buddhahood is attained the instant our characters are perfected." It finds expression in the relationships between individuals, within families, in society, and between nations, holding even greater significance for modern society.

The One-Stroke Calligraphy exhibition area also features works that echo new aspirations for the Year of the Horse, extending from the theme of "success upon arrival" to the spring couplets exhibition area, themed "writing spring couplets year after year." In Chinese culture, the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches are used to mark the rotation of years, with the Chinese zodiac signs serving as representations. Venerable Master Hsing Yun’s spring couplets manifest the characteristics of these animals, embodying a rich philosophy. Taking the horse as an example, those born in the Year of the Horse are characterized by their speed and agility; if one can be like a horse and travel a thousand miles a day, one will surely attain success. An entire wall covered with red spring couplets creates a festive and auspicious atmosphere, extending a blessing to all visitors who come to view the exhibition.

In addition to the One-Stroke Calligraphy exhibition, the venue also features artifacts such as Venerable Master Hsing Yun’s precept certificate, alms bowl, whisk, as well as photographs and videos, through which the public can perceive the daily life of the Venerable Master during his lifetime.

The exhibition concludes with an interactive area, which is divided into four zones: a space for tranquil copying of “Humble Table, Wise Fare: Gifts for Life” and the “Heart Sutra”; a popular photo-taking spot for young people; and a section for family participation, including rubbing activities, the "Passing the lamp" stamp, and a prayer tree where visitors can make blessings for themselves and their families. This area allows the public not only to reflect on their experiences from the exhibition but also to realize that the Buddha’s teaching is embedded within daily life.

To date, the One-Stroke Calligraphy exhibition has been held 186 times, with over 7 million visitors. "One-Stroke Calligraphy" has become synonymous with the Venerable Master's calligraphic works. The "Sixty Years of Handing Down the Light: A Centenary Tribute—Venerable Master Hsing Yun’s One-Stroke Calligraphy Commemorative Exhibition" is on display at the Fo Guang Yuan Art Gallery at Hui Chung Temple from January 18 to June 28, and will be held successively at 27 Fo Guang Yuan Art Gallery branches worldwide throughout this year.

Through this special exhibition, we hope to continue to embody and propagate the Venerable Master’s lifelong compassionate vow in the human world: "A mind of compassion. A body unbound. My only wish? Peace and happiness for all"

Master Hsing Yun's work – Both good and both bad.

Image provided by Huizhong Temple

Annual Spring Festival Couplets Exhibition Area.

Photo provided by Huizhong Temple

A compassionate statue of Master Hsing Yun at the age of ninety.

Photo courtesy of Huizhong Temple

Master Hsing Yun writing calligraphy.

Photo provided by Huizhong Temple

Curatorial Overview: “60 Years of Passing the Lamp and Honoring a 100-Year Legacy” Commemorative Special Exhibition

By Venerable Ju Chang / Main Art Gallery Chief Curator

To celebrate the 60th anniversary of the founding of Fo Guang Shan and the centenary of Venerable Master Hsing Yun, the Fo Guang Shan Board of Directors has designated the series of major events in 2025 as "60 Years of Passing the Lamp, Honoring a 100-Year Legacy" In accordance with this theme, the Fo Guang Yuan Art Gallery Headquarters has curated an exhibition to serve as the key global showcase for all branch galleries in 2026. As this exhibition is intended for the general public and is not limited to internal Fo Guang Shan activities, it is titled "Celebrating the Fo Guang Shan ‘60 Years of Passing the Lamp, Honoring a 100-Year Legacy’ Commemorative Exhibition (1967–2026)." The exhibition highlights the relationship between time, space, and the human world, allowing visitors to instantly grasp its two primary focuses: Venerable Master Hsing Yun and Fo Guang Shan. The entire curatorial axis and narrative flow are developed based on this foundation.

The exhibition is divided into five thematic sections: "Foreword," "The Ten Periods of Venerable Master Hsing Yun’s Life," "The Four Objectives of Fo Guang Shan," and "Global Distribution Map of Fo Guang Shan," concluding with the theme "Peace and Happiness Illuminating the Five Continents." Multimedia and interactive installations are strategically integrated into each section, featuring content such as the "Ten Periods of Venerable Master Hsing Yun’s Life" video produced by Beautiful Live Television (BLTV), a projection area for the "Chronicle of Venerable Master Hsing Yun’s Life," a "Wishing Tree" interactive installation designed with the Venerable Master’s Dharma words, "Photo with Venerable Master Hsing Yun," "One Imprint of Handing Down the Light: A Century of Following—Layered Color Commemorative Postcards," a "Spring Couplet Rubbing Area," a "Yearly Spring Couplet Photo Area," and "A Message to Venerable Master Hsing Yun." In addition to all Fo Guang Yuan Art Gallery branches, the exhibition materials will be available to Fo Guang Shan temples worldwide that do not have an art gallery, and the content may be appropriately adjusted based on the size of the local venue.

The first sub-theme is the exhibition entrance hall. Upon entering the exhibition, the first thing that catches the viewer's eye is the phrase "For the sake of Buddhism." The text cites a passage from the chronicle in *The Complete Works of Venerable Master Hsing Yun*, which describes the scene in 1967 when a busload of devotees arrived at a desolate mountain and were reluctant to disembark. The Venerable Master thought to himself at that moment: "I got off the bus alone and walked around the mountain to make a full circle. After contemplating for a long time, I said to myself with certainty, 'I must establish a monastery here!'... Looking back on my life, I never had great ambitions to revive Buddhism or benefit the world; I did not dare to claim such compassionate vows. However, since the day I renounced, what has truly been on my mind is simply 'For the sake of Buddhism.'" These few words serve as a preface, powerfully highlighting the Venerable Master’s initial mind in founding Fo Guang Shan. Next to this is the lyrics of "The Song of Fo Guang Shan" written by the Venerable Master, which depicts the scenery and essence of Fo Guang Shan, while also encompassing the Venerable Master’s ideals, vision, aspirations, and grand vows for Buddhism. Thus, through this preface, the audience quickly gains an initial outline of the causes and conditions of the Venerable Master’s founding of the mountain and of Fo Guang Shan itself. The entrance hall also features two preface essays—one by Most Venerable Hsin Bao and one from the museum—which serve to provide a concise overview of the exhibition.

The second sub-theme, titled "The Ten Periods of Venerable Master Hsing Yun," serves to guide visitors in understanding the Venerable Master. In the 2013 publication "Buddhist Affinities Across 100 Years", the Venerable Master divided his life since birth into ten-year segments, spanning eight major periods such as "A Life of Learning," "A Life of Traveling and Learning," and "A Life of Literature." The ninth and tenth periods were added by his disciples as a supplement. To provide visitors with diverse viewing options and avoid lengthy reading, this section integrates audiovisual presentations of these ten periods with projections of his "Chronicle", extending the limited exhibition space into the realm of digital imagery. By transforming the static into the dynamic, this approach not only offers visitors a deeper and broader understanding of the Venerable Master, but also reveals through excerpts from his "Chronicle" that everything he has done throughout his life has been for the purpose of Dharma propagation—everything has been "for the sake of Buddhism!"

After the audience has gained a basic understanding of the Venerable Master, the third sub-theme, "The Four Objectives of Fo Guang Shan’s Founding," leads everyone to explore Fo Guang Shan from four perspectives. To begin, we use a passage from the Venerable Master’s work, *How to Be a Fo Guang Member*, as an introduction: "There are many Fo Guang members gathered at Fo Guang Shan, and this is no aimless assembly! We have the ideal of flourishing Buddhism, and we have the vow to provide compassion and aid to society. We know that the wisdom-life of future Buddhism is entirely entrusted to the work of the Buddha's teachings. Educational, cultural, and charitable activities—all such Fohua (Buddhism-oriented) undertakings are merely skillful means for propagating the Dharma." These brief words not only dispel the stereotypical impression that the general public may have regarding the many activities of Fo Guang Shan, but also highlight the Venerable Master’s core value of "doing nothing that is not Buddhist." To alleviate the sense of pressure created by space and time, and to enliven the viewing atmosphere, we have also integrated an interactive element: "Taking a Photo with Venerable Master Hsing Yun." We have selected life-sized cutouts featuring the Venerable Master at the ages of thirty, fifty, seventy, and eighty, inviting visitors to take a photo with him and create a beautiful, lasting memory for their lives.

The "Fo Guang Shan Global Distribution Map" serves as the fourth sub-theme. Beyond listing the places for spiritual practice across various continents, it also introduces the official founding of the Buddha's Light International Association (BLIA) in Los Angeles in 1992. To date, associations have been established in over one hundred and seventy countries and regions across five continents, making it the largest Chinese organization in the world. Through the global distribution map, the ideal and practice of the Venerable Master—"Buddha's Light shines universally across the three thousand-fold world; Dharma Water continuously flows across the five continents"—are fully presented. Finally, the fifth sub-theme, "Safety and Happiness Shine Across the Five Continents," brings the imagery back to the Fo Guang Shan Main Shrine, citing the final verse from the Venerable Master’s "A Proclamation of Sincerity": "With a compassionate vow to deliver sentient beings, my body is like a boat sailing the Dharma sea, unmoored; if you ask what I have sought in my life, it is for safety and happiness to shine across the five continents." This highlights that the Humanistic Buddhism promoted by Venerable Master Hsing Yun throughout his life has never strayed from the ultimate goal of Buddhism: to enable all sentient beings to leave suffering and attain happiness.

The entire exhibition axis is woven together by these five sub-themes, guiding the narrative development in an orderly fashion. Beyond the exhibition script described above, the most important core of the exhibition lies in the "exhibits," which serve as the "evidence" for the story content. This exhibition features Venerable Master Hsing Yun and Fo Guang Shan as the protagonists; therefore, the display focuses on artifacts such as the Master’s robes, alms bowls, ritual implements, ordination certificates, letters, manuscript articles, "One-Stroke Calligraphy," and even statues of the Master. The Dharma propagation endeavors developed from the four cardinal meanings are presented through their achievements, such as publications, newspapers, and special commemorative items, which serve as supporting exhibits. The overall color scheme is based on warm tones, presenting a sense of stability and radiant splendor.

The exhibition "60 Years of Passing the Lamp, Honoring a 100-Year Legacy" serves two purposes: first, to celebrate that Fo Guang Shan, founded by Venerable Master Hsing Yun, has entered its sixtieth year, with the Dharma water of Humanistic Buddhism flowing across all five continents; second, to commemorate the centenary of the birth of our founder. Although the Venerable Master has entered perfect rest, his Dharma body remains ever-present, continuing to lead us forward with courage. For this occasion, we have specially invited the Chairperson, Most Venerable Hsin Bao, to record a video offering his encouragement and expectations.

This exhibition will be held sequentially across 27 galleries worldwide, showcasing the deep cultivation and influence of Fo Guang Shan’s Dharma propagation across the five continents. Opening in April 2026 at the Fo Guang Yuan Art Gallery New Zealand (North Island), the exhibition space features four sheer banners inscribed with the Venerable Master’s "One-Stroke Calligraphy," themed "Never Forget One’s Initial Aspirations," "A Life of Joined Palms," "Non-Duality of Emptiness and Existence," and "Enlightenment Is in the Present Moment." The exhibition includes a special section dedicated to the Venerable Master’s centenary life and practice, a map of Fo Guang Shan’s global distribution, and a photo wall documenting the local achievements in Dharma propagation. These records chronicle twenty years of practice in New Zealand’s North Island, where, following the four cardinal objectives, the center has promoted culture, education, compassion and virtue, and group cultivation, manifesting the fruits of Humanistic Buddhism as it takes root and flourishes across the world.

Ten years ago, in 2016, coinciding with the 50th anniversary of the founding of Fo Guang Shan, Venerable Master Hsing Yun wrote in his article, "Prospects for the Future of Fo Guang Shan": "Reflecting on the founding, the path was paved with hardship through grit and determination. Disciples of Fo Guang Shan must remember the arduous cultivation of our predecessors. In our practice of the Way, our studies, and our service, we must be diligent, self-aware, and reflective; we must not be lax or arrogant. Both monastics and lay devotees must uphold the spirit that 'Glory belongs to the Buddha, achievement belongs to the masses, benefits belong to the Permanence, and merit belongs to the donors.' For the rest of our lives, let us dedicate our bodies and minds—selfless and egoless—to benefit all living beings and exert our utmost efforts for the propagation of Humanistic Buddhism."

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