CHIAYI, TAIWAN – Do you know which Buddha people are referring to when they use the Chinese proverb "clinging to the Buddha’s feet only in a crisis"? The answer was revealed at the first-ever "Taiwan Ksitigarbha Faith Forum," which drew significant public attention and participation. The event was grandly held on April 25 at the International Conference Hall of the College of Liberal Arts at National Chung Cheng University (CCU). The figure in question is Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, renowned in Buddhism for his profound vow: "Not until the hells are empty will I become a Buddha; only when all sentient beings are saved will I attain Bodhi."

For centuries, influenced by his title as the "Lord of the Underworld" during the Ming and Qing Dynasties, Taiwan’s folk society often associated Ksitigarbha with the "yin" (shadowy or ghostly) realm. This led to a cultural taboo regarding his worship. However, Buddhist scriptures record that Sakyamuni Buddha entrusted Ksitigarbha to serve as the world's beacon of light and the savior of suffering beings across the six realms during the interval between Sakyamuni's Parinirvana and the future arrival of Maitreya Buddha. Consequently, while folk tradition views the seventh lunar month as a "Ghost Month" filled with taboos, Buddhism regards it as the "Month of Filial Piety"—a time for offering food to the Sangha, honoring ancestors, and delivering lost souls to express gratitude and filial devotion.

The forum was meticulously planned by the Center for Mazu Cultural Research and the Department of History at CCU. It was co-organized by the Chiayi New Port Fengtian Temple (which signed an academic cooperation agreement with CCU last year) and the Center for Gender Equality, Mutual Love, and Peace of the College of Education. Assisting in the event were the Shiang Gwang Zen Temple Buddhist Library, the Jiuhua Mountain Dizang Temple, and the CCU Higher Education Sprout Project Office.

The forum was presided over by Professor Wei-chen Yang, Vice Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Chair of the Department of History. Professor Shang-wen Yen, a retired Buddhist scholar, delivered the keynote speech titled "The Origins of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva Scriptures in Taiwan." The event featured six research papers presented across two sessions by prominent scholars, including Dr. Zhi-long Guan, Mr. Jian-xing Lee, and Associate Professor Quan-zheng Su (Project Lead for the Jiuhua Mountain Dizang Temple Chronicles), alongside young researchers Dr. Hsiu-mien Yang, Dr. Ching-hui Yang, and doctoral candidate Yu-chia Liu.

Distinguished guests included Professor Chen-hua Wen of Academia Sinica, who moderated the first session on "Ksitigarbha Faith in Chiayi (Zhuoluoshan)." Discussants included National Policy Advisor and Honorary Chairman of the Jiuhua Mountain Dizang Temple, Chun-sen Huang; Associate Professor Jo-han Tseng; Adjunct Assistant Professor Shu-hao Yang; and Venerable Zi Yan, Director of the Shiang Gwang Zen Temple Buddhist Library. Together, they opened a new chapter in academic discourse, deepening the understanding of the diverse cultural connotations of the Ksitigarbha faith in Taiwan.

The forum attracted over 60 scholars, guests, and participants, including university faculty, graduate students, temple personnel, and local historians. The discussions were vibrant and well-received. Notably, the Jiuhua Mountain Dizang Temple showed immense support, sending a large delegation led by Chairman Erh-chien Tsai, Honorary Chairman Chun-sen Huang, and General Secretary Meng-chun Tsai. Their presence from the morning opening to the evening closing highlighted the strong bond between academic research and religious practice.

An accompanying exhibition showcased rare artifacts and historical records, including hanging scrolls of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, Avalokitesvara, and the Ten Kings of Hell; Tibetan Ksitigarbha "treasure vases"; and the historical document "Imperial Grant of Travel Permit for Jiuhua Mountain Dizang Zen Temple." Also on display were the final report of the Jiuhua Mountain Dizang Temple Chronicles and various specialized monographs on Ksitigarbha. These rare materials received high acclaim from attendees, who expressed their hopes for the forum to become an expanded, recurring event.