Nung Chan Monastery in Taiwan
The Nung Chan Monastery was first established in the 1970s, based out of a small farmhouse in Taipei City. Ever since a friend sent me a video of it a few years ago, I have wanted to visit it. I finally made it last month when I was back in Taiwan.
A few decades after it started, the monastery had outgrown the farmhouse. In 2012 a larger monastery was built. This magnificent building, with its simplistic design not only offers devotees a place of worship, it's also a very popular sight seeing place
There aren't many places that wow me and look just as beautiful in real life as video, this was definitely one of them. The most impressive view here is the Water Moon pool in front of the main hall.
The changes in soft reflection and ripples effects from the pool throughout the day and year offers a stunning contrast to the stable structure of the main buddha hall. Like a yin and yang, flexibility and strength in life.
Outside the main hall across the courtyard, the 5000 word Diamond Sutra is inscribed on the wall. Nearly touching the sky, the inscription is almost as sacred as the Diamond Sutra itself, marvelling all visitors passing by.
The Connection Corridor is located in between the Water Moon pool and the visitor car park. I feel this is like the divide between the chaotic outside world, stepping into the harmony of the monastery where one can reach inner peace.
On the other side of the monastery is a little park. There are 8 statues inside, each demonstrating a meditation move that you can do as you walk around. I think the park is great to exercise both the body and mind at the same time.
Finally, I couldn't resist taking this photo of the couple making a heart shape shadow. Their friend was trying to take a photo of the heart shadow for them. Another was a taking a photo of her, so I thought I'd take a photo of them all!
My friend who bought me here, is the same one who sent me a video of Nung Chan Monastery a few years ago. When he told me we were coming here, I actually didn't connect the dots immediately as I forget the name of the monastery. It's only when we arrived, I realised where we were. It was such a lovely surprise, almost like receiving a present that you wanted long ago but had forgotten about.
It was quite early on a Sunday morning when we arrived and there weren't many visitors around. Although the monastery is located quite near to a main road, surprisingly it was very serene and quiet here. One could barely hear the traffic, or perhaps I was submerged in the harmony and tranquility of the whole place that I was able to block out everything else.
I sat by the Water Moon pool for ages, watching the sunrays beam into the water, the light breeze sending flickers every now and then. The faint sounds of chanting from the main buddha hall was so relaxing to the mind and soul. It was so peaceful here.
Then the sun intensified as we reached noon time, and more visitors appeared, breaking into my little world and inner peace. Time to return to reality.
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Simple lines in design, modern minimalist I think they refer to this type of design which never appears to age.
Depending on where you sit finding lighting playing across water brings about contentment.
Lovely surprise on your recent visit.
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I think it's really clever how they have used this design to build a Buddhist monastery but it doesn't make it look too modern yet you can still feel you have to respect the building
Straight lines, pillar pathways, water, all neat and tidy architecture that stands out, however not imposing in the setting, always hidden tranquility in simplicity. Enjoyed the small park with statues, another nice feature to enjoy.
I'm not going to lie: that first shot immediately reminded me of the Hall of Justice from the old old Superfriends cartoon:
Hmm...now that I call up the photo, the building is quite different. Must be the rippling water in front. 🤔
Anyway, looks like a very interesting place. That statue: is it doing tai chi? Is that common to see people do around that place?
If I'm not wrong, I believe this is qigong, and this series is called Ba Duan Jin meaning 8 section Brocade. There weren't many people doing the exercise at the monastery, probably because people were more interested in the main hall itself or attending the prayer session. And those who do do the exercise, will be doing it at home or in a local park very early in the morning instead of 11am on a Sunday morning under the scorching sun.
Wow, that is impressive that it grew from a farmhouse to that. Beautiful shots! I am hoping I can get out and enjoy some nice weather in the next week or so. It has been sunny but quite cold here still.
I hear the weather has been dreadful across the pond, especially with the tornado over the weekend, that was so scarey! Hopefully your neck of the woods will get better weather, easter is coming!
Oh yeah, we are pretty far North, so we don't get too many tornadoes around here. Not like the get down south. It's been nasty for sure!
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Great photos! I hope to have the chance to see these places in person someday. #Manifesting🤞
Well, we're not that far away, maybe you can pop across the island sometime!!!
hopefully soon 😁
Wow you really sold me on the place. It sounds so peaceful. The architecture of the building, walls and fountains is wonderful. I will have to go, if or when I go back to Taiwan!
I'm quite surprised this monastery is quite accessible near Taipei city, yet you can see the mountains behind it and you feel so calm and peaceful.
What a magnificent complex, I can feel the calmness and serenity from here,
Am glad that I can send a bit of zen and calmness across the chain to everyone!!
well it worked with me!
Surprisingly how one can find peace in great places. It is one fine thing nature has given us and I am glad they maintained it there.
It is a nice place to be, maybe one day, I would find my legs right there.
Sometimes you just need to find the inner peace within yourself, not the easiest thing to do, but having the right environinment like this definitely helps
It looks beautiful, so why didn't you go and make a heart with the shadow? Sounds like a great memory to me haha. With the arrival of summer, I expect more travel posts from you 👀
Personally I think that's quite cheesy, but the youngster seems to love it! I challenge you to make a heart shadow with your girlfriend. Tag me when you do 😍😀
After convincing my girlfriend to do this, we also need to find someone to take our picture haha. If I succeed, I will tag you 😂
Wow. Fantastic place. I love the long line of red lanterns, and the moon pool is awesome!
Those are in deed incredible design features, using light and shades to create these wonderful effects
What a beautiful place, the monasteries invade with peace any soul, even the most ardent that enters, what a nice surprise your friend had.
I love the pictures behind the pictures. @livinguktaiwan 😊
I was very happy that my friend bought me here, just like he took me around to a lot of places when I was back in Taiwan recently
good photos, nice content to read, thank you very much
Thanks
It was built in the old century but it looks like a modern one hehe.. I love its reflection in the water...
It was actually built quite recent, about 10 years ago hence the rather modern look, but it's not too modern, still a very solemn looking building
Wow... This is what I love about #Hive!... Every day I learn new things!... This place looks awesome!... But I didn't know it and it definitely "looks very different from the monasteries I have in my mind" :)... It is a relatively modern monastery!... But wow "that peace" wich is perceived in the photos, is fascinating!... Very nice photos by the way friend @livinguktaiwan... Thanks for sharing, I loved this post!...
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I can tell from your post that your visit to Nung Chan Monastery was a truly memorable experience. Your words painted such a vivid picture of the beautiful surroundings and peaceful atmosphere that I felt like I was there with you. It's wonderful to see that you were able to disconnect from the chaos of the outside world and find inner peace in this serene location.
I encourage you to cherish the memories from your visit and to hold onto the sense of tranquility that you experienced. It's important to take time for ourselves and disconnect from the noise and distractions of our daily lives, and it's clear that Nung Chan Monastery provided you with the perfect setting to do just that. Thank you for sharing your experience with us, and I hope you continue to find moments of peace and serenity in your life.
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What a peaceful place! It's so far from being a farmhouse from the 70s. The design is so simple too! Is the connection corridor the entrance to the monastery?
What a beautiful phrase. It's nice to have such nice surprises for your friend. It looks like a nice place to clean our souls and get rid of evil. The pool standing in front of it is impressive. They built a beautiful monastery for both sightseeing and listening to divine sounds. Kapl shadow finale was nice. I must try the heart shape with the sun setting in the distance between our fingers.😊
That's a quite big and uncommon pool to see in from of a monastery that doesn't look like one that Europeans are used to, but it sums up perfectly the whole unicity of the place!
The pool is very shallow, think it's designed like that for the water effect, very cleverly done!
Me gusta el estilo y el diseño del lugar. Espero algún día poder visitarlo. Gracias por compartir.
You're welcome!
Wow, it looks so peaceful. I'd love to visit some day!
Time for a return trip to Taiwan? 😀
That would be lovely!
Are you still in the UK? Was this a "holiday home?" - such beauty.
Back in the UK now. Taiwan was my home for 4 years before covid, so it was going back home to a home that is no longer my home. Confusing, right? 😊
Yes! lol. But oh my, the beauty in what you showed us, wow.
Those are the best sorts of presents - one that you wanted and recive when you least expect it. This is a lovely present indeed - a place of calm in the city. The architecture seems so fitting with its modern, sturdy concrete exterior and most certain calm within - maybe like many of us or somewhat synonymous with its location in the city. I love your analogy of the Connection corridor - not to mention the water moon pool. I can understand why you sat there so long - I would have as well.
I can tell that the monastery left a deep impression on you, both in terms of its physical beauty and its ability to offer inner peace and tranquility. Your account of sitting by the Water Moon pool for ages, listening to the faint chanting from the main hall, really captures the meditative spirit of the place.
This is the first time I've see photos of an actual monastery. It looks more like an embassy, with the clean lines and modern build. I do love the contrast that softness and grace of the Moon Pool versus the strength and calm power of the building itself. What a beautiful and peaceful place! :)
Wow, so modern and also very Mid century post war look. What an amazing place and the cool smooth concrete interspersed with shots of the red really magnificent @livinguktaiwan
The place does look very serene and beautiful. The open sky is making it even more attractive.
It's an inception of photos!!! A photo in a photo in a photo~~~~ hahaha
ha ha!! that's a good way to put it!
😅😂😂