Early Miaoyun Academy

The early Miaoyun Academy was founded here in 1989.

For nearly half a century after its founding, Miaoyun Temple was first overseen by Master Yin Shun and later by Venerable Hui-Li. Under the leadership of Venerable Hui-Li and Venerable Chang-Guang, a community of Buddhist nuns was established, along with Miaoyun Academy. They also established Miaoyun Lecture Hall and the Miaoyun Educational Affairs Foundation in central Chiayi. Through these efforts, they have carried forward Master Yin Shun’s spirit of “inner cultivation and outward propagation,” gradually promoting his vision of Humanistic Buddhism while emphasizing both understanding and practice and putting the Bodhisattva path of benefiting others into practice.

Following Master Yin Shun’s tradition of simplicity and restraint, the Temple for many years consisted of little more than simple buildings with metal roofs. The community endured decades of cold winters and hot summers, but as the monastic community grew, the facilities gradually became inadequate.

Years of weathering and earthquake damage also left the buildings unsuitable for long-term habitation. With the long-term welfare of the monastic community in mind, Venerable Hui-Li and Venerable Chang-Guang decided to undertake an expansion project. At the same time, they took a far-sighted approach to preservation, ensuring that the original retreat quarters would be preserved to museum standards.