Tour Topics

Cultural Compass has tours that revolved around different topics and issues to suit interests and objectives of different groups. The tour uses Shuang Lin Monastery as a social institution to explore anthropological issues. The material culture of the monastery offers excellent evidence for the hypothesis, gossips and conspiracy theories.  No prior knowledge of history or anthropology is required. This is NOT a religious tour.

Which tour to take?

All the tours do not require any background knowledge so visitors can join any that appeals to them. Experience suggest that most people like to know the history of Shuang Lin Monastery, symbolism of artifacts; basically making sense of things in the monastery. If that's the case, "Buddhism and Society" is a good tour to start.

The other tours examines a particular topic or subject matter and will attract visitors with specific interests and/or repeat visitors. But, there are no hard and fast rules and visitors are free to ask any questions during the tour. In fact, it makes the experience more interesting as it becomes more personalized to suit specific interests.

The following is a short summary of available tours/topics:

1) Buddhism & Society

2) Frozen Moonlight

3) Passions & Aspirations

4) Cultural History of Nature 

Buddhism and Society

In this tour, we explore the relationship between Buddhism, societies and individuals. We trace the development of Buddhism as it spreads from South Asia into East Asia, South East Asia and in the last hundred years to the West.

The spread of Buddhism over space and time reveals the relationship between Buddhist beliefs and the local culture dynamics. In the case of China, we explore how Buddhist ideas interact, influences and is influenced by other schools of Chinese thoughts; Taoism and Confucianism.

Interaction of the 3 systems reveals the nature of “religion” in East Asia and how it differs from “religion” as we understand it today.

This new understanding of religion has influenced the way we look at ourselves, our society, and the world around us. Is Buddhism a "Religion" or "Philosophy"?

Buddhist art reflects the diverse nature of Buddhism and the the history of Buddhism as it spreads from Nepal to Asia and recently to western societies. We will try to understand its possible influence on Buddhist attitude towards cultural diversity.

We will also discuss ways to identify the various Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, what they represent and how to appreciate Buddhist art providing the context to understand significance of rituals.

Frozen Moonlight   

“Frozen Moonlight” explores Chinese fascination and romance with the Moon and the emergence of a "moon culture".

Within the context of Shuang Lin Monastery, we investigate the extent of this "moon culture" in monastery art and architecture. We will also attempt to understand the relevance of "moon culture" in contemporary society.

In Chinese mythology, Lady Chang Er resides in the moon accompanied by a rabbit in the “Moon Palace”. Down on earth, a lonely poet once appealed to his shadow and the moon for companionship. Later in his life, he drowned while trying to embrace the moon's reflection in the lake. 

People separated thousands of miles apart admire the moon at the same moment and send their best wishes to each other. The moon is believed to be at its fullest and roundest on Mid Autumn night. Family and loved ones gather to admire the full moon. The roundness of the moon symbolizes unity of the family and union of loved ones.

In the Shuang Lin Monastery, the character moon () appeared 34 times, engraved on various architectural structures. We will explore the different contexts in which the moon appears to appreciate the relationship between "moon culture" and Buddhist philosophy.

On 20th July 1969, Neil A. Armstrong set foot on the moon. He did not see Lady Chang Er, the rabbit or the Moon Palace! However, that did not destroy Mid Autumn celebrations and Moon cake sales continue to rise. 

How should we understand this Chinese fascination with the moon? Cultural Compass attempts an answer.

The Mid autumn is based on the Lunar calendar and falls on 15th of the 8th lunar months. The dates of mid autumn changes every year.

Mid autumn dates:

18 Sept 2005, 6  Oct   2006, 25 Sept 2007

Every Mid Autumn, the monastery offers moon cakes in specially designed tin boxes to raise funds for the restoration project. The pictures shows moon cake boxes from 2004 to 2007 (left to right)

Left to right: 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007

Passions and Aspirations

When we are born, we also enter a social system. The social system acts like an “operating system” influencing the way we perceive ourselves and the way we relate to others. It creates a sense of identity and a way of life.

The collective values of each cultural systems shape the ambitions, dreams, passions, and aspirations of individuals.

These elements form the “Cultural Cosmology” (also known as “worldview”, “weltanschauung”) of the people.

The dreams, passions, and aspiration are often embodied in the material cultural of the society. By exploring the symbolism of the material cultural, we can understand the worldview of the culture and how it contribute to formation of social identities and the reproduction of cultural systems.

At the same time, cultural cosmologies are fluid and responses to developments in physical, technical, and cultural environments.  

We will also explore how “traditional” ideas response to changes in the nature of society and influences of “modernity”.

Cultural History of Nature

In all societies, humans interact with nature and attempt to understand nature.

In the process of observing the rhythms of nature, characteristic and behaviors of animals, humans inject cultural notions into nature. These aspects of nature are being recreated and represented in material cultural and artistic pursuits.

By understanding why and how these aspects of nature came to represent culture, we can understand the nature of a society.

When nature is being appropriated by culture, it also changes the relationship between humans and the particular flora and/or fauna. On the other hand, it also reveals how a society its structure relationship with nature. 

This tour identifies symbols from nature appropriated by culture and attempts to explore the "hows" and "whys" of the process. Evidence is also presented on the extend to which nature "blooms" in human lives.   

The next time you admire nature, attempt to decipher if you are admiring "nature" or "culture".

The tour is conducted in simple language and easy to understand manner.

No prior knowledge is required but remember to bring your camera.

This tour will be launched soon. Join our mailing list to be updated on launch date.

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