Fo Guang Culture and Mo Hai Lou Host Reciprocal Book Donation Ceremony: A Profound Dialogue Between Religion and Art
[Economic Daily News – Chiu Szu-Chen]
Fo Guang Culture and the Mo Hai Lou International Institute of Art Research recently held a reciprocal book donation ceremony at the “Good Knowledge” space on the fifth floor of Fo Guang Shan Taipei Vihara, featuring The Relics of the Dharma Body: The Complete Works of Venerable Master Hsing Yun and Ink Sea Chronicles: Research on the Connoisseurship of Classical and Contemporary Chinese Calligraphy and Painting.
▲ Venerable Yikong (right), Director of Fo Guang Shan Cultural Institute, donates 395 volumes of The Complete Works of Venerable Master Hsing Yun to Mo Hai Lou, symbolizing the transmission of the Dharma lineage; Dr. Ye Guo Shin of Mo Hai Lou reciprocates with Ink Sea Chronicles, paying tribute through arts and culture and demonstrating a profound dialogue between religion and art. (Photo courtesy of Mo Hai Lou)
Venerable Yikong, Director of the Fo Guang Shan Cultural Institute, presented the full 395-volume set of The Relics of the Dharma Body: The Complete Works of Venerable Master Hsing Yun, symbolizing the passing of the torch of Buddhist thought. Dr. Ye Guo Shin, representing Mo Hai Lou, reciprocated with his decade-long scholarly work Ink Sea Chronicles as a response to the intersection of Humanistic Buddhist culture and the art of calligraphy and painting. The two monumental works — one dynamic, one contemplative — reveal the cultural depth where words meet images and religion converges with aesthetics.
The ceremony was graced by distinguished guests, including Liang Yung-Fei, Counselor of the Ministry of Culture; Peng Tzu-Cheng, Director of the Southern Branch of the National Palace Museum; Liao Chia-Hsiang, Secretary-General of the Taiwan-Japan Relations Association; Liang Chin-Chih, Deputy Director of the National Center for Traditional Arts; Professor Su Hsien-Fa, President of the Taiwan Academy of Fine Arts; former President Professor Chiang Ming-Hsien; Yu Wen-Mei, Chairperson of the Tainan Art Museum; Chang Kuo-Tso, President of the Chinese Taipei Badminton Association; Liu Hsi-Hai, Chairman of Emperor Art Auction, together with his son; Chung Fu-Wei, Chairman of Zhitong Tech; former Deputy Minister of Justice Tsai Pi-Chung; former Secretary-General of the Investigation Bureau Hsu Chih-Hsien; and Golden Horse Awards director and artistic director Chi Po-Chou. Political, academic, and artistic leaders gathered under one roof in an atmosphere rich with both cultural significance and Dharma joy.
During the ceremony, Ambassador Liu Hsuan-Yung to Austria sent a congratulatory telegram celebrating the success of the event. In addition, Dr. Wang Tao, Pritzker Chair and Curator of Asian Art at the Art Institute of Chicago, and Japan-based artist Ms. Fu Yi-Yao each sent letters of congratulations, praising the far-reaching cultural significance of this exchange.
▲ From left: Liang Yung-Fei, Counselor of the Ministry of Culture; Venerable Man Qian, Abbot of Fo Guang Shan Taipei Vihara; Dr. Ye Guo Shin of Mo Hai Lou; Venerable Yikong, Director of Fo Guang Shan Cultural Institute; Venerable Jue Pei, Secretary-General of Buddha’s Light International Association; and Su Hsien-Fa, President of the Taiwan Academy of Fine Arts, at the book donation ceremony.
Photo courtesy of Mo Hai Lou
Liang Yung-Fei, Counselor of the Ministry of Culture and former Director of the National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts, expressed his deep admiration and respect for this book donation event. He noted that Dr. Ye Guo Shin, founder of the “Mo Hai Lou International Institute of Art Research,” has long been dedicated to promoting art authentication studies, calligraphy and painting education, publishing, and curatorial work. Dr. Ye has organized numerous major exhibitions, including the joint exhibition of Huang Junbi and his daughter, the joint exhibition of Fu Baoshi and Fu Yi-Yao, and Liang Yung-Fei’s own calligraphy exhibition. Liang praised Dr. Ye’s exceptional curatorial expertise and further emphasized the educational value of Ink Sea Chronicles as an important reference for contemporary studies in calligraphy and painting authentication.
Professor Su Hsien-Fa, President of the Taiwan Academy of Fine Arts, also shared his deep connection with Fo Guang Shan and recalled his long-standing teacher-student relationship with Dr. Ye Guo Shin, calling him the “Henry Lee of the cultural world” for his unique ability to instantly discern the authenticity of artworks.
Former Deputy Minister of Justice Tsai Pi-Chung encouraged younger generations to engage with Buddhist teachings early in life, sharing how reading Human Daily deepened his understanding of Humanistic Buddhism and influenced both his personal life and thinking.
Lin Geng-Ching, Chairman of Ji Yi Printing Arts Company, also delivered brief remarks at the ceremony, expressing gratitude for Fo Guang Culture’s trust and highlighting that Ink Sea Chronicles is the culmination of Dr. Ye Guo Shin’s decade of knowledge and dedication. Recalling the early publication process, Lin noted that Dr. Ye pursued perfection in every printed image, working tirelessly day and night, even personally bringing authentic works to the printing site for direct comparison — a level of commitment that left Lin both astonished and deeply impressed by Dr. Ye’s relentless pursuit of excellence.
▲The ceremony was held at the “Good Knowledge” space on the fifth floor of Fo Guang Shan Taipei Vihara, attended by numerous figures from the arts and cultural community, creating a solemn yet warm atmosphere. (Photo courtesy of Mo Hai Lou)
Dr. Ye Guo Shin highlighted in his speech that the third volume of Ink Sea Chronicles provides an in-depth study of Venerable Master Hsing Yun’s calligraphy, praising the unique “One-Stroke Calligraphy” style. This style blends the strengths of stele inscriptions and model scripts, with free-flowing brushwork and vigorous structure, achieving a perfect unity of inner cultivation and brush technique, offering a new perspective for understanding and appreciating Buddhist calligraphy art.
Venerable Yikong, Director of the Fo Guang Shan Cultural Institute, lauded Dr. Ye Guo Shin as a “national treasure-level figure,” noting that Ink Sea Chronicles, created through rigorous scholarship and a decade of dedication, establishes a new benchmark in Chinese art authentication. Venerable Yikong remarked: “Dr. Ye’s work embodies both insight and Dharma vision. The text reveals strength and integrity, while the images convey spirit. This publication is not only a profound depiction of art but also a promotion of culture.”
The atmosphere of the ceremony was both warm and solemn as representatives from both sides exchanged tributes. This event marked not only a significant milestone in cultural exchange but also embodied the concept of “using the classics as the vessel and wisdom as the sail,” opening a new chapter in cross-disciplinary collaboration between religion and art.
Source :Economic Daily News
