1960
Establishment of Shou Shan Amitabha Chanting Association.
The Venerable Master solicited a group of more than 10 people, including Chen Zu, to establish Shou Shan Amitabha Chanting Association while applying for temple registration. Over the next few years, the Chanting Association was relocated several times. It was not until the completion of Shou Shan Temple that the Chanting Association finally found a permanent home.
February , 1963
Foundation laying of Shou Shan Temple.
In order to invite the Master to stay permanently in southern Taiwan for Dharma propagation, the devotees in Kaohsiung requested for building a temple. Kaohsiung Shou Shan Temple thus began the construction.
January ,1964
Venerable Master Hsing Yun delivered lectures titled Discourse On The Ten Wholesome Ways Of Action during Shou Shan Temple’s construction.
Venerable Master Hsing Yun hosted the New Year Dharma Propagation Service for the first time. Upon completion of Shou Shan Temple, Venerable Master Hsing Yun hosted the first New Year Dharma Propagation Service.
August, 1964
Shou Shan Temple hosted Buddha and Sangha Offering Dharma Service on Buddha’s Joyful Day, Lunar July 15th.
September, 1964
Shou Shan Temple was gifted a 100-volume "Buddhist Canon."
Lay Buddhists, Zeng Shih-Min and Lin Rou, donated their lifetime of savings to purchase a 100-volume "Buddhist Canon" for Shou Shan Temple.
Venerable Master Hsing Yun gave talks on the Heart Sutra.
November, 1964
Medical Treatment Clinic Established at Shou Shan Temple.
Shou Shan Temple Inauguration Ceremony (November 29).
Febuary, 1965
Student recruitment and entrance exams hosted at Shou Shan Buddhist College.
March, 1965
Commencement of Shou Shan Buddhist College First Semester.
October ,1965
Lamp relics appeared during a Medicine Buddha Dharma Service held at Shou Shan Temple.
Shou Shan Temple hosted a Medicine Buddha for the Country’s Protection and Peace Service and set up a Medicine Buddha altar inside the Main Shrine. Colorful lamp relics appeared on the second day of the service.A series of Buddhist lectures were launched at Shou Shan Temple.
November, 1965
Shou Shan Temple receives honored guests of the First General Conference of the International Congress of World Chinese Buddhist Sangha Council.
Shou Shan Temple was put in charge of receiving honored guests from the First General Conference of the International Congress of World Chinese Buddhist Sangha Council when they visited Southern Taiwan. The Venerable Master mobilized thousands of his followers to welcome them with great enthusiasm, causing a sensation in the greater Kaohsiung area. Shou Shan Temple thus sprang into fame.
September ,1966
Shou Shan Temple founded Pu-Men Kindergarten and Pu-Men Day Care Center.
November, 1966
Japan’s Kodo Kyodan Buddhist Fellowship visited Taiwan.
When Japan’s Kodo Kyodan Buddhist Fellowship visited Taiwan, Rev. Shodo Okano praised Shou Shan Buddhist College for being a new force in Buddhism.
Glazed lamp relics shined at the Medicine Buddha Dharma Service held in Shou Shan Temple.
June, 1967
Shou Shan Buddhist College renamed Eastern Buddhist College.
Renamed Eastern Buddhist College, meaning it originates from the East and adapts learnings from the West so as to keep up with the needs of modern society.
January, 1968
Shou Shan Temple held the Graduation Ceremony of the 1st Class of Eastern Buddhist College.
Taiwan's first-ever batch of Bachelors of Buddhist Studies was nurtured at Eastern Buddhist College.
July, 1968
Eastern Buddhist College on an island-wide Dharma propagation team.
The Venerable Master led the College’s second-year graduates on an island-wide Dharma propagation tour around Taiwan.
January, 1969
Eastern Buddhist College was officially relocated to Fo Guang Shan.
June, 1982
Shou Shan Temple was awarded a “Religious Charity Excellence Award” from the Ministry of the Interior.
The Story Behind the Construction of Shou Shan Temple
When Shou Shan Temple was completed and the inauguration ceremony was held in November of 1964, Venerable Donghai Yicheng of Linji School from Dongshan Temple made a special trip to visit Shou Shan Temple. Although the actual construction of Shou Shan Temple took less than 2 years, the time spent in the early stages to find the parcel of land took as long as 6 to 7 years! Without full support from the devotees, Shou Shan Temple would not have been possible.
