Perhaps the most impressive sight is the arrowhead-shaped building that stands before us. This is Tung Lin Kok Yuen. Lady Clara Ho Tung and her husband Sir Robert Ho Tung founded this Buddhist monastery in 1935.
The monastery’s name comes from the couple. Sir Robert Ho Tung and Lady Clara’s dharma name Lin Kok were combined. Lady Clara wanted to spread Buddhist wisdom and promote women’s education. She was a Buddhist layperson.
In the early 1930s, she established the Po Kok Free School and the Po Kok Buddhist Institute. These Hong Kong schools educated women and trained nuns. Tung Lin Kok Yuen first housed the school and the institute.
Tung Lin Kok Yuen is in Happy Valley’s residential area. Its location marked the rise of an urban monastery in Hong Kong. This contrasted with monasteries in the mountains.
Tung Lin Kok Yuen looks like a giant ship because of its arrowhead shape. It represents Mahayana Buddhism’s idea of ferrying beings to enlightenment. Fung Tsun designed the building. Venerable Shi Ai Ting gave advice on Buddhist details.
Tung Lin Kok Yuen has Western structural forms. It also has traditional Chinese designs inside and outside. These include flying eaves, brackets, and glazed tile roofs. The monastery follows the traditional Chinese layout. It has a Skanda Hall, the Grand Buddha Hall, and a Tripitaka Library. The Dharma Bell and Dharma Drum are on each side of the Grand Buddha Hall.
In 1954, the courtyard behind the Grand Buddha Hall became the three-story Lin Kok Memorial Building. Fung Tsun designed it to match the original building’s style. The Bhaisajyaguru Buddha Hall is now on the first floor of the Lin Kok Memorial Building.
Tung Lin Kok Yuen is a Grade I historical building. This means every effort should be made to preserve it. The government may conduct repairs and restoration. This preserves its historical heritage.
Groundwater infiltration once damaged the teak floor. Conservation work included fixing the concrete foundation and teak flooring. Plastic was put between the ground and foundation. An underground drainage system was added. This helps discharge underground water.
Tung Lin Kok Yuen advances Buddhism and manages the Po Kok schools. The temple helps the community with social projects. It publishes the Lin Kok Quarterly Journal and the Lin Kok Collection. These publications use scholars to discuss life’s meaning.
The Yuen also gives money to the Hong Kong Society for the Aged. It aids the construction of an aged care facility. It supports the Mental Health Association of Hong Kong. Regular classes in Buddhism, hymns, and meditation are offered at the Yuen.
Lady Clara Ho Tung founded the Po Kok Free School for Girls in 1931 in Causeway Bay. In 1935, the school moved to Tung Lin Kok Yuen in Happy Valley. The school gave women education and promoted Buddhism. The Temple manages three schools. These are Po Kok Secondary School in Tseung Kwan O, Po Kok Primary in Happy Valley, and Po Kok Branch School in Hung Shui Kiu.
Tung Lin Kok Yuen is more than just a temple. It blends Chinese and Western styles. It serves as a place of learning and spiritual growth.