Since 2005, Merit Times has organized the Vegetarian and Organic Food Expo to promote vegetarianism, which is an alternative healthy option and is also environmentally friendly as it helps reduce carbon emissions.
In 2014, the vegetarian expo was combined with the international book fair. The concept was to combine vegetarianism and reading. For the past two years, this combination has been well-received by the general public. In addition, Fo Guang Shan aims to promote reading in Taiwan, China and Japan with the use of the Cloud and Water Mobile Libraries.
This year, the Kaohsiung government collaborated with the Buddha Museum to host the Book Fair & Vege Expo. The event will showcase books catered to various ages, multicultural cuisines, and numerous activities including the National Reading Exposition and other outdoor activities.
The artists from Henan Art Center performed “Little Horse Crosses the River” last year and has won high reputation.
This year, the same troupe will perform Monkey King. The story features trust and responsibility, and inspires positiveness in children.
Date & Time
Nov 10(Sat) 10:30
Nov 12-Nov 16(Mon-Fri) 10:30 & 13:30
Venue Great Enlightenment Auditorium
This year the Little Tea Masters . A Thousand Drinkers will be held with the participation of little tea makers will gather from around Taiwan.
The renowned Hebei musician, Lee Zhi-Hui, will be performing at the Bodhi Wisdom Concourse.
Date & Time Nov 10(Sat) 17:00-19:00
Venue Bodhi Wisdom Concourse
Lee Zhi-Hui will be holding a special performance at the Bodhi Wisdom Concourse on the second day of the event.
All visitors would be able to appreciate music integrating oriental ethnic and western electronic elements.
Date & Time Nov 11 (Sun) 17:00-19:00
Venue Bodhi Wisdom Concourse
Although the Heart Sutra only contains 260 words, it also contain the essence of prajna wisdom. All visitors are welcomed to join in this endeavor of transcribing the Buddha’s words of wisdom.
Date & Time
Nov 10 (Sat)-Nov 11 (Sun), Date & Time TBD
Nov 17(Sat)-Nov 18 (Sun), Date & Time TBD
Venue Bodhi Wisdom Concourse
Date & Time Nov 11 (Sun) 17:00-19:00
Venue Bodhi Wisdom Concourse
The paper, ink-stick, writing brush and ink-slab, which are traditional Chinese writing tools, have been honored as the “Four Treasures of the Study”. Anhui has all the four treasures and is the homeland of the Xuan paper, the Hui ink-stick, the Xuan writing brush and the She ink-slab.
Date & Time Nov 11 (Sun) 17:00-19:00
Venue Bodhi Wisdom Concourse
The Bureau of Cultural Heritage, Ministry of Culture, will present national archaeological heritage items during the International Book Fair. As part of the educational outreach programme, this exhibition encourages students to get to know the prehistoric cultures of Taiwan.
Date & Time Nov 11 (Sun) 17:00-19:00
Venue Bodhi Wisdom Concourse
During the International Book Fair, the Winning entries of the Buddha’s Birthday Celebrations Photography Contest held in May this year would be exhibited.
Through the perspectives and interpretation of photographers, the exhibition aims to present the beauty of photography and bring visitors to a different Buddha’s Birthday.
Date & Time Nov 10 (Sat) - Nov 18 (Sun)
Venue Northern and Southern Walkways
In this year’s International Book Fair, children with special educational needs will bring brilliant art works to the Buddha Museum again. The Museum provides a platform for all children to realize their talents as well as to help them adapt to this society through art.
Visitors and students can enjoy a short story read out in English and hand-made activities. This story-reading session hopes to inculcate interest in reading and nurture wisdom through inspiring stories.
Date & Time Nov 12 (Mon), Nov 14-17 (Wed-Sat) 10:00 - 10:30
Venue Rhinoceros Area
In order to foster talents through education, Cloud and Water Mobile Libraries were set up to nurture interests of general public, to encourage self-learning, and to make a positive change in life.
During the International Book Fair, all the 50 Cloud and Water Mobile Libraries across Taiwan will be driven back to the Buddha Museum for a grand display.
Date & Time Nov 9-11
Venue Bodhi Wisdom Concourse
Venerable Master Hsing Yun has authored more than 300 books, which were translated into more than 20 languages such as English, French, Spanish, Portugese, German, Korean, and Japanese. Through his books, you will find a close connection between Humanistic Buddhism and our daily lives. In the upcoming International Book Fair, we would like to recommend you the following books.
Masters of Reform and Innovation in the History of Buddhism─Venerable Tzu Jung
The Guiding Orchids offers a glimpse into the histories, lives and the experiences of Sakyamuni Buddha and other iconic Buddhist Masters of China. Each made significant contributions to the understanding of the Buddha, the Dharma, paving the way for the Sangha to practice with clarity and efficiency. To quote Venerable Tzu Jung, “The purpose of this book is to delve into the lives of eminent monks throughout history; their efforts to uplift Buddhism; revolutionize the doctrine; as well as strengthen and support society. It is my hope that their actions inspire Buddhists today, driving them to hold their own revolutions. For without revolutions, there can be no progress for Buddhism. Despite the many changes and crises it underwent throughout history, it remains unshaken.”
Author: Venerable Master Hsing Yun
'Pick it Up!' is an award winning collection of Chan (Zen) stories or gong' ans (koans) which are mostly dialogues between Chan masters and practitioners of Chan within Chinese Buddhism as well as Zen Masters from the Japanese tradition. They teach us that practicing Chan is not about escaping responsibilities of mundane life or just sitting in meditation; not just letting go of our attachments, but to pick it up when the need arises for compassion in helping others. This book won the 2018 Living Now Book Award Bronze Evergreen Medal for Spiritual Leadership.
Author: Venerable Master Hsing Yun; Translated by: Alex Wong
Drawn from ancient textual sources, the Biography of Sakyamuni Buddha is an intimate and imaginative retelling of the life of the founder of Buddhism. From the Buddha’s youth, to his renunciation, and decades of teaching, the Biography of Sakyamuni Buddha depicts the Buddha’s hardships, triumphs, and boundless compassion.
First published in 1955 and now in its tenth Chinese edition, this important early work of Venerable Master Hsing Yun is now fully available in English to reach a new and expanding audience.
Cooking courses available at the Twin Pavilions from Nov 11-17 at 2 pm (fees required for ingredients)
Solar Term: White Dew
Soup with four kinds of herbs and three kinds of grains.
Tea seed oil and lotus seed congee.
Solar Term: Autumnal Equinox
Lemon jelly with brown sugar (making fig jelly and brown sugar liquid).
Solar Term: Cold Dew
Making white fungus desert with salty pear tea and honey pear.
Solar Term: Frost Descent
Lotus root tea, white fungus, and honey lotus root.
Solar Term: Start of Winter
Black date pastry and longan apple tea.
Solar Term: Minor Snow
Yellow ginger, pumpkin, and pine nut soup.
Solar Term: Winter Solstice
Red bean and black rice congee.
Walk through the booths from the Eightfold Path Pagoda → Visit the Cloud and Water Mobile Library (between Four Giving Pagodas & Twin Pavilions) → Walk through Jetavana Grove en route to Main Hall → See Marvellous Treasures & From One Root exhibitions on Main Hall 2F → Experience Sutra Calligraphy at Big Buddha Terrace (starts every hour) → Visit book fair booths
14:00Gather at Front Hall reception
14:30Visit Cloud and Water Mobile Library en route to Main Hall
15:00Marvellous Treasures & From One Root exhibitions
16:00Sutra Calligraphy (1 hour, fee required)
17:00
Nov 10 - Little Tea Masters . A Thousand Drinkers (subjected to availability, additional fee required)
Nov 11 - Beautiful Music . Wonderful Life (subjected to availability, additional fee required)Other days - Visit the book fair booths
● Southbound: Nat’l Hwy1→ Nat’l Hwy 8(East bound) →Nat’l Hwy 3 (North bound) →Nat’l Hwy 10 (East bound) →Qishan/Dashu Interchange (turn right) →Provincial Hwy 21→Fo Guang Shan Monastery.
● Northbound: Nat’l →Nat’l Hwy 10 (East bound) →Qishan/Dashu Interchange (turn right) →Provincial Hwy 21→Fo Guang Shan Monastery.
1 From the bus station in front of Kaohsiung Railway Station, take the direct Kaohsiung Bus 8010 (8010高雄客運) (12 NT)
2 From Zuoying High Speed Railway Station, take EdaBus 8501 (8501義大客運) (70 NT) Bus Schedule
3 From Fengshan Train Station, take Dashu Bus (大樹祈福線) (30 NT) Bus Schedule
4 From Pingtung Bus Station, take Pingtung Bus 8260 (屏東客運) (72 NT) Bus Schedule
5 From Zuoying High Speed Railway Station, take Harvard Express (哈佛快線) (70 NT / 50 NT on Tue and Thu). Check timings online Bus Schedule Route Map