An Introduction to Fo Guang Shan South Island

Situated at the intersection of Harakeke Street and Riccarton Street, Fo Guang Shan South Island stands on a 2000sqm land. Although the area is not large, it is a building of art. The original concept of Fo Guang Shan South Island was inspired from carvings of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas in the Long-men Grottos. It is hoped that the spirit of Humanistic Buddhism will be able to be reflected through the carvings from these grottos and that the building will be an example of multicultural exchange with Eastern arts blending into a Western building in Christchurch. With the four Bodhisattva statues, the building also reflects a Buddhist practitioner¡¯s cultivation of ¡°Walking, Standing, Sitting, and Reclining¡±.
The building was co-designed by Warren & Mahoney and Ban Mu Tang Environment Integration, constructed by Fletcher Construction. It is a Green Building. It is one which respects life and cherishes resources. Using rough stones and simple walls, the building tells us of a practitioner¡¯s thoughts. Using wood and water, it directly reflects the mind of a practitioner. The more natural the raw material, the closer the building is to the heart. It is said that this building is the shrine for arts, beliefs, lifestyle and knowledge. It is Fo Guang Shan¡¯s priceless gift to the local society, and even more so, it is the Pureland for current and future generations.