Discover HKBU

Exhibition highlights Yunju Temple’s cultural treasures

30 Apr 2024

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Mr Meng Xuan, curator of the Stone Scripture Museum, Yunju Temple, Fangshan, Beijing (centre); Professor Alex Wai, President and Vice-Chancellor of HKBU (4th right); Dr Priscilla Wong, Founder of the Good Fortune and Wisdom International Charity Fund (4th left); Mr Lam Wai-pong, Chairman of the Good Fortune and Wisdom International Charity Fund (3rd left); Mr Ken Chow, Founding Vice Chairman of the Chinese Western Culture Arts Association (2nd left); Dr Albert Chau, Vice-President (Teaching and Learning) and Acting Dean of Arts of HKBU (3rd right); Professor Lo Ming-tung, Head of the Department of Chinese Language and Literature at HKBU (2nd right); Mr Tang Fei, member of the Legislative Council (1st right); and Mr Du Gexiong from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the People’s Republic of China (1st left), officiate at the opening ceremony of “The Miracle of Chinese Culture: Historical and Cultural Exhibition of Yunju Temple in Fangshan, Beijing”.
Stone sutras
Paper sutras

Forty-three precious treasures from “Yunju Temple”, the world’s largest museum of Buddhist sutras, were displayed at Koo Ming Kown Exhibition Gallery on HKBU campus this month. For the first time, the “Three Wonders of Yunju Temple”: stone sutras, paper sutras and wooden sutras, with a history of over a thousand years, were showcased in Hong Kong. The exhibition also marked the global debut of several original stone sutra rubbings.

“The Miracle of Chinese Culture: Historical and Cultural Exhibition of Yunju Temple in Fangshan, Beijing” was co-organised by HKBU, the Good Fortune and Wisdom International Charity Fund and the Chinese Western Culture Arts Association.

The exhibition presented the thousand-year history of sutra engraving at Yunju Temple, delving into the establishment of Yunju Temple, the history of sutra carving, the collection of precious treasures, as well as the study and conservation of cultural heritage. Yunju Temple, located in Fangshan District, Beijing, was built by the eminent monk Master Jingwan during the Sui Dynasty.

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Wooden sutra
Original stone sutra rubbing

Among the precious treasures on display at HKBU were stone sutras, paper sutras and wooden sutras of the Sui, Tang, Liao, Jin, Yuan, Ming, Qing and modern periods, including original stone sutra rubbings (paper rubbings produced from stone sutras) and framed paper rubbings of stone sutras.

In an interactive area, visitors engaged in wooden sutra rubbing to experience the craftmanship of traditional Chinese printing. They also wore virtual reality glasses to enjoy a close-up navigation of the Chinese civilisation treasure, the Leiyin Cave, where stone sutra carving in Fangshan originated.

Professor Alex Wai, President and Vice-Chancellor, highlighted the University’s dedication to promoting Chinese culture and its heritage: “HKBU has proactively responded to China’s National 14th Five-Year Plan, emphasising cultural heritage and development. The University has spared no effort in promoting Hong Kong as the East-meets-West Centre for International Cultural Exchange.”