On 21st April 2026, Consul-General of the People’s Republic of China in Christchurch Madam HE Ying led a delegation of seven consular staff members to visit the Passing the Lamp of 60 Years, Honouring a 100-Year Legacy commemorative exhibition of Venerable Master Hsing Yun at Fo Guang Yuan Art Gallery New Zealand South Island. The delegation was welcomed by Curator Abbess Manshin and BLIA South Island commitees.
During the exhibition opening on 18th April, Consul-General HE Ying listened to a video message by Venerable Ruchang, Chief Curator of Fo Guang Yuan Art Gallery Headquarters, who shared that the exhibition presented the life of Venerable Master Hsing Yun decade by decade.Deeply inspired, the Consul-General brought the consular team to learn more about the life and spirit of this great Buddhist master, his dedication to Humanistic Buddhism and the humanistic values shaped through the meeting of Buddhism and Chinese culture.
The consular team admired the thoughtful exhibition design. Large display panels introduced the ten major stages of Venerable Master Hsing Yun’s life, while warm circular lights hanging from the ceiling symbolised the passing of the Dharma light from generation to generation.
The exhibition also featured stories from the Master’s early years, including leading a Buddhist choir in Yilan, Taiwan during his twenties to spread Buddhist teachings through singing, his reunion with his mother in his hometown, and photographs of important places from his childhood such as Xiannü Temple and Baita Primary School. Old photographs of the Master’s visit to New Zealand in 2007 and his Dharma propagation in New Zealand were also displayed.
After reading Venerable Master Hsing Yun’s Open Letter of Honest Revelation, Consul-General HE Ying said the Master was compassionate and selfless, always caring deeply for others. Abbess Manshin shared that Venerable Master had written his final words in 2013, but continued serving the world with compassion until his peaceful passing in 2023.
The Abbess also shared the Founder’s verse: With a compassionate vow to liberate all beings,My life is a boat untethered in the sea of Dharma. If you ask what I seek in my life, May peace and happiness shine upon the five continents.Through the verse, the delegation gained a deeper understanding of the Venerable Master’s compassion and aspirations for peace and happiness for all people.
Consul-General HE Ying shared that even in China, it was rare to have the opportunity to visit an exhibition about Venerable Master, and she was grateful to experience it here in New Zealand. She said that the Master left behind great wisdom and many contributions to Buddhism for future generations. She added that Buddhism once felt distant to many people, but Venerable Master helped bring Buddhism into everyday life. His life journey was also closely connected with modern Chinese history and offered many valuable lessons to learn from. Madam HE Ying encouraged the younger consular staff to learn from the Master’s perseverance, hard work, and dedication. The delegation also praised the Master’s One-Stroke Calligraphy for its Chan spirit and wisdom.
At the end of the visit, Abbess Manshin presented the Consul-General with a One-Stroke Calligraphy collection and commemorative stamps by Venerable Master Hsing Yun. Madam HE Ying shared that every visit to the gallery was thoughtful, inspiring and memorable.
