Buddhism originated in ancient India around 2,500 years ago, founded by Śākyamuni and rooted in wisdom and compassion. It spread across Asia, leaving a profound and enduring impact. Throughout this vast journey across time and space, Buddhism emphasizes that every sentient being holds an innate potential—an inner light of true nature. This “light” transcends forms, appearances and languages, reaches into the very essence of existence, and illuminates the heart of each one of us. This exhibition follows the artistic and cultural threads of Buddhism’s three major legacies, presenting three thematic sections that, from historical narrative to one’s inner awakening, guide the audience on a luminous journey. Visitors will follow the exhibition’s path, beginning with a gaze into historical artifacts, passing the Buddhist cosmology through the beauty of art, and ultimately returning to a personal experience of inner clarity—this light is born from the heart, illuminating oneself and the world.

In 2022, we stepped into the cycle of life and death, and came to understand the bonds that tether human existence. In 2023, we ventured into the vastness of mountains, seas, and skies, seeking humanity’s place in them. This year, we dissolve into nothingness, surrendering to the eternal rhythm of nature—chasing the light, feeling the light, becoming the light, and receiving its redemption. Since the dawn of creation, it has flowed through all things—light, the essence of spirit. Casting aside the limitations of human perception, Delving into the cycles of all beings, In pursuit of what humanity longs for— The eternal light present in all existence.

The creation of an ecosystem is not shaped by a single species, but by the intricate interactions among myriad plants, animals, and their environment. This exhibition, set against the backdrop of streams in Wulai District, New Taipei City, highlights Taiwan’s keystone species, including the Formosan black bear and other endemic creatures. It serves as a guide for us humans, as integral members of this environment, to appreciate the beauty and poignancy of the living creatures that share our world.