Inspired by Venerable Master Hsing Yun's propagation in Fengshan, several lay followers from Lingya later invited the Venerable Master to their hometown to teach. After the event was completed, the devotees would invite him to return again. Therefore, the Venerable Master suggested that they build a lecture hall for future events. That is how Kaohsiung Buddhist Hall came about. In 1954, groundbreaking took place, and Kaohsiung Buddhist Hall was honored as the cradle of Humanistic Buddhism in Southern Taiwan.
Kaohsiung Buddhist Hall Chronology
1954
Foundation Laying Ceremony of Kaohsiung Buddhist Hall.
Venerable Master Hsing Yun’s Dharma Lecture on The Lotus Sutra’s Universal Gate Chapter at Kaohsiung Buddhist Hall.
The first phase of Buddhist Hall is completed and the Master gave a speech about The Lotus Sutra’s Universal Gate Chapter on Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva. There were more than 1000 audience every night.
October ,1955
Establishment of Kaohsiung Buddhist Hall Research Class.
Venerable Master Hsing Yun was invited to hold the Triple Gem Refuge Ceremony at Kaohsiung Buddhist Hall.
November,1955
Venerable Master Hsing Yun was invited to hold the Triple Gem Refuge Ceremony at Kaohsiung Buddhist Hall.
Venerable Master Hsing Yun was invited to give talks on the Heart Sutra and hold the Triple Gem Refuge Taking Ceremony. More than 300 people became true Buddhists on that day. Members of Kaohsiung Buddhist Hall formally invited the Venerable Master to propagate Dharma there permanently.
1956
Kaohsiung Buddhist Hall Buddhist Sutra Center was established.
March,1956
Venerable Master Hsing Yun hosted the first Amitabha Chanting Retreat at Kaohsiung Buddhist Hall.
May,1956
Kaohsiung Buddhist Hall expanded the celebrations for the Buddha's Birthday.
Kaohsiung Buddhist Hall expanded the celebration activities to include a Buddhist movie festival and lantern parade. Participations in these celebrational events were unprecedented.
July,1956
Venerable Master Honorary Appointment as the Superintendent of Kaohsiung Buddhist Hall.
November,1957
Venerable Master Hsing Yun spoke on the Diamond Sutra at Kaohsiung Buddhist Hall.
December,1957
Venerable Master Hsing Yun raised funds for the affiliated Tzu Yu Preschool of Kaohsiung Buddhist Hall.
Janruary ,1962
Graduation of Kaohsiung Buddhist Hall’s First Dharma Research Class.
October, 1967
Inauguration of Kaohsiung Buddhist Hall.
