Honouring the 110th Anniversary of Venerable Bo Yuan:
An Exhibition of his Calligraphy, Paintings, and Historical Documents

Art and Dharma, offered to the world divine,
Only those of noble virtue see its spirit shine.

— Excerpt from Venerable’s work Talking about the past amongst the whistling pines

Venerable Bo Yuan was born in 1914 in Fuan, Fujian Province, China. At the age of 19, he became a monk at Shifeng Temple in his hometown, and was ordained at the renowned Gushan Yongquan Temple, in Fujian Province, where he became a disciple of the centenarian monk, Master Xu Yun. He was later sent by Gushan main temple to the Kek Lok Si Temple Penang to serve as the abbot in 1947. In 1959, he participated in the establishment of the Malaysian Buddhist General Association (later referred to as MBA) with his fellow Buddhist monks, Venerable Zhu Mo, Venerable Jin Xing, and Venerable Jin Ming.

Venerable Bo Yuan dedicated his entire life to the cause of Buddhism, leaving a profound impact on the spread of Chinese culture in Malaysia and across Southeast Asia. In 2000, he was the first Chinese artist to hold a major solo exhibition at the National Art Gallery of Malaysia, showcasing his Chinese ink masterpieces. In addition to his painting and calligraphy, he also published a number of books on calligraphy practice and art catalogues, providing valuable references for research.

Throughout his life, the Venerable made remarkable contributions to Buddhism, Chinese education in Malaysia, and culture. In 2009, Venerable Bo Yuan passed away on the 15th day of the 3rd month in the lunar calendar, with tens of thousands of people coming to pay their last respects. The Venerable’s noble actions were deeply rooted in his homeland, spreading far and wide overseas. He lived a life marked by both compassion and wisdom, making a lasting contribution not only to China and Malaysia but also to communities around the world.

“Honouring the 110th Anniversary of Venerable Bo Yuan: An Exhibition of his Calligraphy, Paintings, and Historical Documents, featuring Masterpieces Donated by C.N. Liew” will present a complete display of the Venerable’s calligraphy and ink paintings from various eras, as well as his documents and artefacts. The exhibition is divided into three main thematic areas: the ground floor will present valuable loaned works from local collectors; the mezzanine floor will display documents and artefacts from Venerable Bo Yuan during his time promotingBuddhism in Malaysia; and the first floor will showcase Venerable Bo Yuan’s paintings from C.N. Liew’s collection, which were donated to the Bo Yuan Memorial Hall at Shifeng Temple in Fu’an, Fujian, China, under the Chinese Buddhist Association, a site recognized for provincial-level cultural relic protection and patriotic education

As a disciple of Venerable Bo Yuan and a practitioner in art and calligraphy, C.N. Liew has been fortunate to receive guidance from  the Venerable. Their shared passion and deep affinity have led to his inheritance of Venerable’s treasured calligraphic works and paintings. In order to further promote the exchange of Buddhist culture and art between Malaysia and China, C.N. Liew has decided to donate his precious collections to the Venerable Bo Yuan Memorial Hall in Fujian, China, as a tribute to his mentor, as well as a reflection of  the everlasting friendship and cultural integration between Malaysia and China.

The exhibition and the series of activities are jointly organised by Soka Gakkai Malaysia and the Malaysia-China Friendship Association, with the support of the Peking University Malaysia Alumni Association, Jeth Fine Art and LLG Cultural Development Centre, Institute of Chinese Studies – Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, PJ Kwan Inn Teng , Klang Hokkien Association, the Taiwan Buddhist Tzu-Chi Foundation Malaysia (KL_Selangor Branch), Fo Guang Shan Malaysia, and Adaptive Design Matrix Development Sdn Bhd. (ADMD). Numerous esteemed monks, scholars, and cultural figures provided valuable insights for the preparation and promotion of the exhibition and related events. Together, they are dedicated to honouring  Venerable Bo Yuan, the revered monk from Fujian renowned for his virtue and cultural achievements both at home and abroad. This momentous occasion also highlights the significance of his return to Buddhism, his homeland, and the people, coinciding with the 50th anniversary of Malaysia-China diplomatic relations.

Exhibition opening hours: 11 am – 5 pm (Closed on Mondays)
Prior appointment is required for groups of more than 20 people, Please get in touch with us at https://b.link/WhatsApp_SokaPCE