Tibetan Culture & Art Festival Info

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As Taiwan plays a vital role in the global ICT industry, it has been regarded as “a high-tech island” in the world. Besides, with the help of numerous Tibetan Buddhist followers and locals enthusiastic about Tibetan culture, the Tibetan religion, art, and culture have been developed and thrived on this island, thus creating an enormous religious power which not only purifies people’s minds, but engages in a positive conversation on self-reflection and self-improvement with modern civilization in pursuit of technological innovation. The 2016 Tibetan Culture and Art Festival held by the Mongolian and Tibetan Affairs Commission (MTAC) offers a great opportunity for us to personally experience a special way of life that integrates the ancient culture into modern technology.

Following the 2015 Tibetan Culture and Art Festival, the MTAC would consecutively hold the 2016 Tibetan Culture and Art Festival in Taiwan with a great chance in a life time to experience and appreciate the Tibetan Buddhist prayer for peace and harmony, Buddhist chants, and Tibetan precious cultural relics. It is our earnest hope that all of you could join with us and enjoy the wonderful events, thereby having a better understanding of Tibetan Buddhist and culture.

Date: April 30, 2016 at 09:00 (Saturday)

Venue: Expo Hall, Taipei Expo Park

Address: Yumen Street, No. 1, Zhongshan District, Taipei, Taiwan

Tibetan Buddhist Prayer for World Peace and Harmony

Buddhism is one of the major religious traditions in Taiwan. As Taiwan society is free and open, Tibetan Buddhism is gradually flourishing in Taiwan since the 1980s. With the establishment of large numbers of Buddhist organizations and Dharma centers of the various sects of Tibetan Buddhism, over more than a thousand Tibetan monks from mainland China or overseas are being invited annually to give religious teachings or to engage in educational and cultural events, thereby fully demonstrating the vitality of Tibetan Buddhism in the Taiwan society.

Taiwan has become one of the important places for Tibetan Buddhism in the world. In order to promote the positive development of Tibetan Buddhism in Taiwan, the MTAC is going to organize a Tibetan Buddhist ceremony joined by the four sects of Tibetan Buddhism—Nyingma, Sakya, Kagyu, and Gelug—to do a prayer Pūja. Following H.E. Gangteng Rinpoche of Nyingma in 2015, an eminent Rinpoche of Kagyu would lead the prayer of this year. We hope people from all over places can participate in, appreciating this unique religious event.

Tibetan Religious Dance – Cham

“Cham,” as called in Tibetan, is a religious dance performed by monks in Tibetan monasteries to eliminate bad karma, featuring in its long historical tradition and significant dancing scenes. It was invented in Tibet by the Indian Buddhist master Padmasambhava, who was invited by King Trisong Detsen in mid 8th century. It originated from Indian tantric mask dance, combined with Tibetan indigenous Bonpo tradition and folk styles. Undergone the revisions by several Tibetan Buddhist masters, it has gradually transformed into a unique series of Tibetan religious dances. With different religious instruments holding in hands, most of the dancers wear special masks, decorations, and hats while performing. Together with the majestic tune performed by monks, it creates an extraordinary religious atmosphere.

Date: July 19, 2016 at 19:30 (Tuesday)

Venue: Auditorium of National Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall

Address: Jen Ai Road, Sec. 4, No. 505, Xinyi District, Taipei, Taiwan

Buddhist Chants by Ani Choying Dolma

Ani Choying Dolma, a Tibetan Buddhist nun born in Nepal in 1971, is renowned for her beautiful Buddhist chanting. At the age of 13, she joined Nagi Gompa, a Buddhist nunnery in the foothills of the Himalayas. Her education and spiritual training was supervised by the great meditation master, Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche. She was well-versed in Buddhist meditation, chants, rituals and ceremonies, also mastering in Tibetan, English, Nepali, and Hindi. Her chanting voice is peaceful and pleasant-sounding, conveying the harmony of Dharma with its purity; she quickly advanced to the position of the chanting master in the nunnery. She acquired the recognition worldwide and her voice touches the hearts of every soul. In addition to traveling the world, performing, and teaching, as the founder of the Nuns’ Welfare Foundation of Nepal and Arya Tara School, she is committed to establishing schools and improving female education in Nepal. Her compassionate soul is as beautiful as her voice.

In collaboration with U-Theatre, a famous art-performing group in Taiwan, the Buddhist chants made by Ani Choying Dolma are going to combine both classical and modern performing styles, providing the audience with unforgettable sensory experiences at all times.

Dates: 2016/05/03~2016/7/31; 2016/08/06~2016/11/06

Gallery: Exhibition Area I 103, 104

The National Palace Museum (NPM) in Taipei is considered one of the top ten famous museums in the world. The collection of cultural artifacts held inside the NPM consists of an enormous treasure trove of objects from the Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties. The Tibetan Buddhist cultural relics to be displayed in the exhibition are all from NPM’s own collection, some of which are even making its debut.

Oṃ Ma Ni Pad Me Hūṃ, the six-syllable mantra of Avalokiteśvara, is the most well-known religious mantra in Tibetan Buddhism, being recited by almost every Tibetan. Tibetan Buddhism and Chinese Buddhism are the two main Mahāyāna Buddhist traditions existing today. The religious characteristics of Tibetan Buddhism are the Tantric Buddhist practices and Madhyāmika point of view. They also adopted some features from the indigenous Bon religion, thus forming the unique style of Tibetan Buddhist culture.

The NPM holds a unique collection of Tibetan Buddhist art crafts. The exhibition will display the famous Kangxi Kangyur, the Tibetan Manuscript Buddhist Canon being made by the order of Kangxi Emperor as the main feature, with other Buddhist texts, paintings, instruments, and bronze statues. It is divided into five parts: 1. the wrapping and binding materials from the Kangxi Kangyur. 2. the actual textual contents of the Kangxi Kangyur. 3. Chinese, Manchu, and Mongolian Buddhist texts related with Tibetan Buddhism. 4. Chinese Buddhist texts containing Tibetan Buddhist mantras. 5. The Buddhist miniatures on the protecting planks from the Kangxi Kangyur, with bronze statues, dharma instruments, and paintings, which will be displayed by the five categories of Buddhist deities.

Date: Every Saturday of May-July, 2016

Venue: Mongolian and Tibetan Cultural Center

Address: Chingtien Street, Lane 8, No. 3, Daan District, Taipei, Taiwan

Lectures on Mongolian and Tibetan Cultures

It is believed that there are four living Buddhas in the Gelug of Tibetan Buddhism—Dalai Lama, Panchen Lama, Changkya Khutuktu, and Jebtsudamba Khutuktu. The 7th re-incarnation of Changkya Khutuktu had spent many years spreading Dharma in Taiwan, and his dwelling place is located at the Mongolian and Tibetan Cultural Center in Taipei. For those, who would like to understand the lineage of Tibetan Buddhism, the relationship between Changkya Khutuktu and Dalai Lama, and the connection between Changkya Khutuktu and Taiwan, are welcome to participate in the lectures on Monglian and Tibetan Cultures.