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Water Moon Monastery, by Kris Yao


Water Moon Monastery was completed in 2012, and designed by the famous Taiwanese architect Kris Yao, who is the one architect that I admire. Water Moon Monastery is located on the vas of Guandu Plain which is an outskirt of Taipei city. According to the Feng Shui, the design takes advantage of the site facing Keelung River and backside facing the Datun Mountain. The design intend to be simple and minimal which enhance the natural beauty of the existing landscape and connect back to the architecture to create a spiritual retreat for users and visitors.

The interesting part before designed this Water Moon Monastery, when Kris asked the client about his vision for this temple shall be, the client, Master Sheng Yen, the founder of the Monastery and Dharma Drum Buddhist Group, answered that he ‘’sees’’ the temple in his mediation dhyana, then just told him, ‘’It is a Flower in Space, Moon in Water’’, ‘’Let’s name it the Water Moon Monastery’’. Kris was confused. Then he figured out what’s the meaning of this sentence from the Sutra, it is something unreal in this phenomena. He showed to the Master Sheng Yen with a draft, Master was surprised and told him that is the temple that he saw in the Mediation dhyana.

Kris Yao, Artech Architect

Kris’s ideas were the shadow on lotus pond; the movement of water; when wind blow, water will move, shadow also move; and the wind blow, curtain will move, its shadow also will move on the water. So all of these, make the temple become illusion form in front the lotus pond.

Essence of the water-moon concept: on a clear night, the moon will reflect in the clear water of the lotus pond, this reflect mind seem as big and bright as the moon itself, but in the end it is only an illusion, like most other things on earth.

There will be a way that approaching the main hall by covered with two walls of different heights that serve as buffer from the expressway of the city. And there is opening at between which allow the visitor to view the façade of the temple and 80metres long lotus pond, one feels a sense of quietness and serenity.

On the front façade, Kris was putting the 260 characters of Heart Sutra that carved out of massing wooden wall. The view from outside, the wall looks unimpressive. Only inside the hall, make whole the sutra become visible. Meanwhile, when the lights shine through the characters, the space is infused with aura of culture and spirituality. The wall doesn’t just mean as the sunshade, also providing the addition religious meaning as an unspoken manner, is revealed.

Kris also mentioned that, the outcome of these carved-out characters is over what he expected. The words is moved according to the sun shine, seem like Buddha’s talking to his people. Even the visitor also commented that, the Water Moon Monastery does make people felt it is holy and fully respect inside the hall. Quietly and pray.

Below are the videos that Kris Yao present for his works,

Apologize that videos below is Chienese Version, since he was interviewed by local people. But all of these videos are focus on the Water Moon Monastery.

Here is the Kris Yao's blog to show up all of his projects. Can be refer from here and there provide two type of language.


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