Chi Lin Nunnery
An Astonishing Reproduction
You’ll be forgiven for thinking that this Buddhist nunnery is ancient. That’s because even though Chi Lin Nunnery was established as a retreat for nuns in 1934 and rebuilt in the 1990s, it’s a faithful reproduction of monastic architecture used during the Tang Dynasty (618-907), with a main hall modeled after Foguang Temple built in 857 in Shanxi Province. The simple elegance of its architecture and gardens make it an oasis of tranquility.
The nunnery displays a remarkable attention to detail, achieved by utilizing both ancient building techniques and modern technology. After skilled artisans and craftsmen in China carved all the various pieces from yellow cedar, the pieces were brought here and assembled, all without the use of nails. Rather, a remarkable technique using wooden doweling and brackets holds everything together. You can see examples of how the nunnery was constructed across the street in the Nan Lian Garden, which you shouldn’t miss.