Nung Chan Monastery

In 1971 he led his disciples in clearing land on the Guandu Plain, and in 1975 a farmhouse was completed. Following the principle of 'Chan practice first, farming for a living', he named it Nung Chan Monastery ('farming and Chan'). In 1977 Elder Dongchu passed away peacefully while seated in meditation, entrusting his work to Master Sheng Yen, who became abbot of the Culture Centre and Nung Chan Monastery and devoted himself to spreading Buddhism and promoting Chan meditation. As the number of followers grew, a permanent and stable site with room for the future was sought. In July 1989 Master Sheng Yen announced that the new centre in Jinshan would be named Dharma Drum Mountain and set out a clear plan for it: to serve education, culture and the spreading of the Dharma, to give followers a good place to practise Buddhism and purify body and mind, and to use Buddhism to bring peace to people's hearts and to society. The monastery's architecture combines elements of traditional Chan temples with modern design and blends with its natural surroundings. The style is simple and plain, with open spaces and natural light, intended to create a calm, harmonious place for practice and daily life.

Translated and shortened by DealTaipei from Taiwan's national tourism database. Sources are on the terms page.