"Jing Shan Īsvara: Maestro of Buddhist Art: Xia Jing Shan's Bodhisattva Exhibitions" was held on January 2, 2021 at Fo Guang Yuan Art Gallery Taichung. Chief Abbess Jueju of Fo Guang Shan Central Taiwan Vihara delivered the welcome speech at the opening ceremony, while Fo Guang Shan Head Abbot, Most Ven Hsin Bau and Dr. Chao Chung-Chieh, Executive Director of Xia Jing Shan Arts and Culture Foundation, delivered the opening remarks on behalf of the organizers. Shiah Kuei-Chun, Chairman of Xia Jing Shan Arts and Culture Foundation; Tsai Chi-Chang, Vice President of Legislative Yuan; Legislator Ma,Wen-Chun; Lee Kuo-mo, famous teacher of calligraphy and painting; and other distinguished guests attended the event. Displayed during the opening ceremony was "Buddha", a seven-meter giant painting by Maestro Xia Jing Shan, which the Xia Jing Shan Arts and Culture Foundation donated to Hui Chung Temple for the latter’s permanent collection, so that all visitors to Fo Guang Yuan Art Gallery Taichung can appreciate it to get comfort and pray for the end of the world's calamities.

Vice President of the Legislative Yuan Tsai Chi-Chang said that Maestro Xia Jing Shan is the pinnacle of Taiwanese meticulous painting and an internationally renowned artist. He was very grateful to the organizer for hosting this exhibition at Hui Chung Temple, so that friends in central Taiwan can enjoy world-class art. Fo Guang Shan Head Abbot, Most Ven Hsin Bau said in his speech that Maestro Xia Jing Shan and Venerable Master Hsing Yun were highly matched in their philosophy to advocate arts and culture and this exhibition at Hui Chung Temple was a rare privilege to everyone; Master Jueju, Chief Abbess of Fo Guang Shan Central Taiwan Vihara thanked Maestro Xia Jing Shan for comforting people with Buddhist paintings. Lee Kuo-Mo, a famous painter and calligrapher, recited in his speech that when he learned meticulous painting after Master Xia, he learned not only the painting skills but also the ways to behave as a decent man. Legislator Ma,Wen-Chun said she pays great attention to Maestro Xia Jing Shan's paintings and felt particularly honored to see his original works at this exhibition. Chao Chung-Chieh, CEO of Xia Jing Shan Arts and Culture Foundation, briefed in his speech how the Foundation had been interacting with the world in recent years; for example, the Foundation began in 2020 to cooperate with Sotheby's Institute of Art in London for the "Xia Jing Shan & Sotheby's Oriental Art project”.

Displaying the classic series of Maestro Xia Jing Shan, this exhibition was first exhibited at Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum in April 2020, displayed at Fo Guang Yuan Art Gallery Taipei in August, and moved to Fo Guang Yuan Art Gallery in Taichung in spring 2021. Masterpieces selected for this "Jing Shan Īsvara: Maestro of Buddhist Art: Xia Jing Shan's Bodhisattva Exhibitions" included the paintings of Manjushri, Samantabhadra, Avalokitêśvara, protector Jia Lan, Skanda, and the Arhats who abide by the true Dharma.

At the opening ceremony, the Foundation unveiled the 7-meter-long "Buddha", a masterpiece on silk completed by Maestro Xia Jing Shan in 1996. In the painting, Buddha is seated on the lotus seat of Sumeru, with the Dharma seal on his right hand and the meditation seal on his left hand. The details of the entire work are so complicated that its painter must have completed it with a high degree of concentration and a respectful and devout heart. No wonder, it is regarded as the pinnacle of Buddhist painting art.

"Jing Shan Īsvara: Maestro of Buddhist Art: Xia Jing Shan's Bodhisattva Exhibitions" will be on display until March 7th. In addition, from 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. on January 17th, the organizer will hold a special educational event: "Appreciation of Maestro Xia Jing Shan's Buddhist Paintings with Expert Dialogue", which will be hosted by Chao Chung-Chieh, CEO of Xia Jing Shan Arts and Culture Foundation while Pan Fan, former President of Tainan Art Museum will be invited for a dialogue. Exhibited on the same day will be the “Avalokiteśvara with Thousand Hands and Eyes”, the huge nine-meter painting by Maestro Xia Jing Shan. Everyone is welcome to grasp this rare opportunity to participate and appreciate.