Bhiksuni Hung An

Taiwan

Bhiksuni Hung An

Taiwan

Bhiksuni Hung An was born as Pi-Chu Wu in 1943 in Hongmaogang, Kaohsiung. Her father is Tien-Shou Wu, and her mother is Su-Yuan Wu. She's the sixth child of 7 siblings in her family.

Bhisuni Hung An has observed the dietary rules of Buddhist restraint since she was 9 years old. When she was thirteen years old, a master used slides to propagate Dharma and described stories of the Buddha, which increased her Bodhi Citta to follow The Three Precious Treasures. So, she studied Buddhist Studies Classes at night, memorized lots of terms in the Dictionary of Buddhism, and more. Grand Master Bhisuni Hung An was admitted to the Institute of Tripitaka Buddhist Studies, and after overcoming a lot of difficulties, she finally achieved her wish of being tonsured (ordained) by Dharma Master Jen Kuang, she then became a Samaneri in Hai Hui Temple in Keelung, and studied in the Institute of Buddhist Studies.

In 1961, Grand Master Bhiksuni Hung An received the full precepts at the Hai Hui Temple in Keelung. After her graduation in 1963, she was hired as a lecturer at the Buddhism Hall in Kaohsiung, which allowed her to start to propagate Dharma. In 1964, she established Ching Lian Mountain, National Preserve, Miao-Chiung Temple in Tsao Ya, Qianzhen Dist., Kaohsiung. She observed that people who live in this district are mostly laborers, and they have to earn their keep everyday preventing them from taking good care of their children. Therefore, she founded Miao Yu Kindergarten to look after the children. In addition, she let the children from low-income households and single-parent families have whole-day care for free, and these children can wait for their parents until they finish their work.

In 1983, due to the roadwork done by Kaohsiung City Government, the Ching Lian Mountain, National Preserve, Miao-Chiung Temple was separated into two parts. In 1984, Grand Master Bhiksuni Hung An bought Ching Lian Mountain in Liugui Dist., Kaohsiung.

In 1986, the Manjushri Hall was completed. By 1989, the children's Buddhist Studies Summer Camp was held for its 3 consecutive year. The Manjushri Cup Calligraphy Competition was held among the seven cities and counties in southern Taiwan from 1990, and it was held twice. Each time the competition had, 4 to 5 thousand participants. It was really marvelous!

Grand Master Bhiksuni Hung An started to build the temple using Chinese cultural cloisonné and stone carvings in Liugui Dist., Kaohsiung. This temple combines different construction styles, including exoteric and esoteric Buddhist architecture and artwork, as well as, castle and the palace architecture. She spent 23 years building the temple up until its completion in 2007. After that, Grand Master Bhiksuni Hung An continues to promote the political and educational welfare proactively, for example to assist people who have suffered from disasters, to respect elders on Double Ninth Festival, to care for communities, to assist the government with many activities, to respect elders on Xia Yuan Festival in different areas, and to hold lunch feasts for elders to name a few.

In 2014, a petrochemical gas explosion occurred in Kaohsiung. Grand Master Bhiksuni Hung An held the V ajrakilaya I** ntensive **** R ***itual* to release souls from purgatory and pray for casualt** ies. **** Also, **** she did her best and participated in the Dharma Service for avoiding avian flu and praying for people.**

On April 22, 2014, World Earth Day, Grand Master Bhiksuni Hung Anchanted the sutras around the pagoda to pray for human beings and the earth. In the middle of July, she held asummer camp on Tibetan Buddhist Studies. Moreover, she pioneered a competition for painting lanterns, and the participants were divided into three groups: junior and senior high school students, college and university students, and members of society.

Grand Master Bhiksuni Hung An expects that she will be more capable of benefitting more people in society in the future.