The Cloud and Water dragon spans 46 feet, leisurely wandering beside the “Way to Buddhahood”, grinning widely and greeting the people with laughter. photo／Hsi Fang Temple

Ching Pan
February 16, 2024

As the 2024 Lunar New Year approaches, devotees of Hsi Fang Temple of Fo Guang Shan, regardless of ethnicity, age, or gender, uphold the spirit of the founding master, Venerable Master Hsing Yun, "propagate Dharma through cultural activities." Together, they have collectively created four special exhibitions: Cloud and Water Dragon, Carefree Orchids, Auspicious Mala, and Joyful LEGO. Among them, "Clouds and Water Dragon" is crafted from various recycled materials, allowing old materials to be reborn in the new year.

Lynette King, the designer of the outdoor Cloud and Water Dragon (second from the left), tests the capacity to support the dragon's head along with the volunteers. photo／Hsi Fang Temple

The exhibition of "Clouds and Water Dragon" showcases two dragons bestowing blessings, one on the outdoor corridor and the other welcoming visitors inside the Main Shrine. Lynette King, the designer of the outdoor Cloud and Water Dragon, expressed gratitude for everyone's efforts in transforming recycled materials "from unwanted to wanted—from mundane to extraordinary!" The dragon spans 46 feet, with its vibrant 1/2” plywood head held high leisurely, grinning from ear-to-ear, and coming to greet and to welcome all beings, including local neighbors walking or driving by. The community has been delighted to see the visiting lucky dragon and have been amazed as it comes to life at night with LED lights aglow. During daytime, its shimmering painted array of warm-hued red, orange, and golden yellow recycled plastic lid scales have been cleverly stapled together, dangle, and sway in unison by gentle breezes—which seem to lift the dragon into flight amidst the surrounding puffy clouds and bring to life Venerable Master Hsing Yun’s 2024 New Year’s Blessing to ALL: “May You Be Free As Cloud and Water, Auspicious and JOYFUL!” Its long flowing majestic body—made from one long continuous piece of old thick braided rope, found discarded in the alley behind the temple, coiled around a large weathered wooden spool—seems to float effortlessly on forever and ever.

Volunteer spray-paints recycled plastic lids in bright red, orange, and gold, to be used as the “lucky scales” of the Cloud and Water Dragon. photo／Hsi Fang Temple

Lynette King also mentioned that the most warmhearted and happiest-ever New Year’s dragon arrived early in San Diego, California, just in time to attend the World Peace Interfaith Meditation Day at Hsi Fang Temple, and offer up its lucky scales for everyone to write their well-wishes upon, Dec. 31, 2023.

The temple members staple the “lucky scales” together. photo／Hsi Fang Temple

Beside the Cloud and Water Dragon, there is a banner explaining the symbolism of dragons in Chinese culture and Buddhism, as well as the meaning of "May You Be Free as Cloud and Water, Auspicious and Joyful," allowing the community to appreciate the dragon and gain insight into Chinese culture.

Entering the second floor, a Quilling paper adheres to the wall of the Main Shrine, with the image of children surrounding the Cloud and Water Dragon to celebrate the New Year. Designed by Li Ma, this artwork was created with tFhe help of elders, parents, youth, children, etc. They used tools to roll up various colored paper strips, shaping them through pinching, folding, rubbing, bending, and twisting, and then piecing and sticking them together to create clouds, lanterns, lion dances, children, and more patterns, presenting a sense of three-dimensionality through the art of rolled paper. Zilu, who participated in the making of the dragon’s scales, expressed that the process requires a calm mind, like in the state of meditation, plus it's made by using recycled paper, which holds extraordinary significance.

The lion dance art piece is completed by the whole family of the designer, Li Ma. photo／Hsi Fang Temple

The indoor Cloud and Water Dragon is presented through the art of rolled paper (Quilling), where the process requires a calm mind, much like meditation. Moreover, it's made using recycled paper, adding extraordinary significance to its creation. photo／Hsi Fang Temple

Venerable Zhiching stated that during the Lunar New Year Festival, there will also be a Creative Art & Craft Station, where recycled materials such as fruit foam sleeves and recycled paper are used to create Clouds and Water Dragon art pieces. Hsi Fang temple wholeheartedly welcomes everyone to come and enjoy the Lunar New Year.

Everyone comes together to create auspicious clouds and red lanterns. photo／Hsi Fang Temple

2024甲辰龍年春節將近，佛光山西方寺的信徒不分族裔與男女老少，延續開山祖師星雲大師「以文化弘揚佛法」精神，集體創作四大特展—雲水祥龍、自在蘭花、祥和佛珠、歡喜樂高，其中「雲水祥龍」由各類回收材料再生而成，讓舊物料在新年獲新生。

「雲水祥龍」展出雙龍獻瑞，分別在室外的成佛大道，及大雄寶殿內歡迎參訪者，室外的雲水祥龍設計者Lynette King表示，謝謝大家合力讓回收材料完成「從被棄置到被需要，從平凡到不非凡」的轉變，總長46英呎，悠遊在成佛大道旁的雲水祥龍，咧嘴大笑地與民眾打招呼，在太陽照耀下，閃耀著溫暖鮮明的紅色、橙色、金黃色光芒，夜晚在LED燈的投射下，也光彩熠熠。由回收塑料蓋「幸運鱗片」被巧妙地釘在一起，並再以一條被民眾廢棄在寺院後方的編織長繩串連，龍身會隨著微風搖擺， 就如同在雲彩中輕鬆翱翔，極為符合大師的新春祝福「雲水自在．祥和歡喜」，願大眾的內心如雲水靈巧自由。

Lynette King並說，雲水祥龍恰好趕上了12月31日的國際世界和平禪修日，西方寺當天舉行跨宗教禪修祝禱世界和平，每個人在雲水祥龍的「幸運鱗片」上，用各自的母語寫下新年祈願，這是一條承載眾人希望，最溫馨快樂的龍。

雲水祥龍旁還有中英看板，解釋龍在中國文化與佛教的象徵，還有「雲水自在．祥和歡喜」的涵義，讓來往的社區大眾欣賞祥龍之餘，也對中華文化有所了解。

在大雄寶殿牆上的雲水祥龍，身邊有孩童包圍著慶祝新年，此作品由馬莉設計，並帶領松鶴班長者、家長、青年、兒童、美籍人士，集眾人之力，每週六下午在寺裡，用工具將各色紙條捲起，以捏、折、搓、彎、捻等方法做出造型，再拼湊黏貼，化成雲朵、燈籠、舞獅、孩童等，以捲紙藝術方式呈現立體感。參與龍麟製作的子鷺表示，黏貼的過程需要靜下心，有如禪修，且是使用再生紙製作，意義非凡。

西方寺知晴法師表示，春節期間還有創意手工藝區（Art & Craft Station），也是使用回收材料如水果泡棉網套、再生紙等，製成難度不同的雲水祥龍作品，竭誠歡迎大眾來走春。