The Avatamsaka Sutra teaches, “If you see a bridge, vow that all sentient beings, will build bridges for the Dharma and tirelessly liberate others.” The Youshan Pedestrian Bridge (Youshan means fellowship in English) was constructed by Chung Tai Chan Monastery to provide safe passage for visitors crossing the busy road between Miaojue Park and the monastery. Serving as a connection between sentient beings and Buddhadharma, the bridge is a poignant symbol for the Bodhisattva Way, wherein one vows to master all manner of expedient means to help sentient beings cross the ocean of suffering and reach the shore of nirvana.
Inspired by Grand Master Weichueh’s bodhisattva vows, the guiding design principle of Youshan Bridge is unwavering compassion for human life. The bridge was built to be safe, convenient, and accessible; it winds through a beautiful Chan monastic garden, giving visitors a place to slow down and enjoy the view before making their pilgrimage to Chung Tai. More than just a structure connecting two locations, Youshan Bridge is also a spiritual crossing, an expedient means guiding people toward the path of bodhi and enlightenment.
Giving visitors safety and peace of mind
The bridge is ten meters high and one-hundred fifty meters long, with a traditional Chinese sloped roof and lotus petal motif, an aesthetic consistent with the architecture of Chung Tai. Designed in harmony with the main building, the bridge’s façade doubles as the monastery’s pailou (a gate or arch structure placed at an entryway) and features the words “Chung Tai Chan Monastery,” in the calligraphy of the late Grand Master. In this respect, Youshan Bridge stands not only in honor of the Grand Master’s legacy, but as a reminder to uphold his vows and benefit all beings.
Strolling up the ramp to Youshan Bridge, visitors are greeted by a pair of stone lions, who smile in welcome like ambassadors from the pure land. The ramp slopes gently upward at a gradient accessible for pedestrians, wheelchairs, and baby carriages; its spacious walkway accommodates large groups without becoming too crowded. To ensure a flat, nonslip surface and minimize the risk of accidents, Hainan black stone was selected to give the ramp a rough finish. Railings and handrails extend the length of the bridge, illuminated by LED lights in the dark, providing visitors with an added dimension of safety and accessibility. Designed with heartfelt concern for the safety and comfort of visitors, Youshan Pedestrian Bridge embodies the nature of Buddhadharma, which embraces and welcomes all beings, like the ocean accepts water from thousands of rivers.
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Crossing Over to Spiritual Mountain
From the bridge, one sees a stele inscribed with the words, “You have personally arrived at Spiritual Mountain.” Surrounded by staggered stones, Chinese ixora, Taiwan cow-tail, dwarf juniper, and evergreen pines, this stele is the centerpiece of a Chan monastic garden and contains the heart of Chan teaching. In Buddhism, “spiritual mountain” refers not only to a place of practice, but this very mind, the pure mind of inherent knowing and intrinsic awareness, a treasury of fathomless blessings, wisdom, and merit hidden at the core of all beings. Youshan Pedestrian Bridge is a bridge for the Dharma, a piece of the path leading back to spiritual mountain, where all sentient beings can experience the freedom and joy of enlightenment.
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