Museum of World Religions

The Museum of World Religions (MWR; traditional Chinese: 世界宗教博物館; simplified Chinese: 世界宗教博物馆; pinyin: Shìjiè Zōngjiào Bówùguǎn) is a museum in Yonghe District, New Taipei, Taiwan.^[1]

Museum of World Religions

世界宗教博物館
Established	2001
Location	Yonghe, New Taipei, Taiwan
Coordinates	25°00′28.8″N 121°30′28.0″E
Type	museum
Founder	Dharma Master Hsin Tao
Curator	Ma Yu-chuan
Public transit access	Yongan Market Station
Website	Official website

History

The museum was founded in November 2001 by Venerable Hsin Tao (心道), a Buddhist monk, and set up through the Ling Jiou Mountain Buddhist Foundation. Further elaborate opening ceremonies were held in September and November 2002 with many religious leaders and others from around the world, including the President Chen Shui-bian.^[2] The Taiwanese architect and educator Han Pao-teh was the first curator. In February 2003, an interactive multimedia was installed at the Hall of Life Travel.

Architecture

The museum building was designed by Ralph Appelbaum Associates,^[3] the designer of major American museums including the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington DC and the expansion of the Hayden Planetarium at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City.^[2]

Exhibitions

The museum presents exhibits on ten different major world religions. It also features a model called "Avatamsaka World" illustrating the Avatamsaka Sutra.

Transportation

The museum is accessible within walking distance North West from Yongan Market Station of the Taipei Metro.

See also

• List of museums in Taiwan
• Buddhism in Taiwan

References

1. Maria Reis Habito, The Taipai, Taiwan, Museum of World Religions, Buddhist-Christian Studies, Volume 22, 2002.
2. Two HDS Staff On Hand for Opening of Museum of World Religions in Taipei Archived 2008-07-05 at the Wayback Machine, Harvard Divinity School, Harvard University, United States, 2002.
3. Museum of World Religions: Project Description Archived 2008-07-04 at the Wayback Machine, Ralph Appelbaum Associates Incorporated.

External links

• Official website