文／佛館國際組 Buddha Museum International Affairs Department 圖／佛陀紀念館 Buddha Museum
什麼是博物館？看似簡單的議題，在全球博物館界卻爭議激烈。
首先，全球博物館人在2019年國際博物館協會京都大會上提出新定義關鍵詞提案活動。根據數據分析，前五名新定義關鍵詞依序是研究、保存、遺產、教育、包容。佛光山佛陀紀念館如何實踐全球博物館人選出的五個新定義？
【研究】-美國加州大學柏克萊分校終身榮譽教授蘭卡斯特交付最新研究「佛教海線絲綢之路」，並與佛館一同策展。此展2021年5月18日起五年，在佛館和全世界各地朋友藝術相會。
【保存】-佛館在2022年春節期間舉辦「十大展出鎮館之寶」活動，透過票選架起博物館和全世界民眾的溝通橋樑。「佛陀紀念館來了！」用愛心、耐心、決心向全球朋友介紹館內保存的稀世珍寶。
【遺產】-佛館每年舉辦「地宮珍寶入宮法會」，設置48座地宮作為典藏文物場所，珍藏包括佛教文物、當代社會、世界文明、臺灣文化等主題物件，汲汲保存人類共同生活記憶及世界文明遺產。
【教育】-環境教學是佛館終極目標。佛館啟用後，自然生態景觀成為各級學校校外及田野教學最生動活潑的互動場域。其中，兼具宗教和教育功能的「佛教植物園區」，2022年3月12日植樹節與大家喜相逢、接心。
【包容】-世界神明聯誼會每年12月25日在佛館舉行，全台各宮廟熱情參與，感謝星雲大師的巧思和用心。星雲大師說：宗教之間彼此要和諧、尊重、包容、交流，同中存異，異中求同。
佛館以星雲大師倡議的「人間佛教」為核心理念，實踐博物館的社會性與公共性，符合博物館人心中的新定義和生命力。
What is a museum? This seemingly simple question is fiercely controversial in the global museum community.
Museums around the world have put forward new museum definitions during the ICOM Kyoto Conference in 2019. According to data collected, the top five keywords for the new definitions are research, preservation, heritage, education, and tolerance. How does the Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum implement these five new definitions?
Research - Lewis R. Lancaster, Emeritus Professor of the University of California, Berkeley, displayed his latest research on “Buddhist Maritime Silk Road” in the exhibition co-curated with the Buddha Museum. The five-year exhibition is now up on display for visitors from all across the world.
Preservation - During the New Year Festival in 2022, the Buddha Museum set up a bridge with people around the world through the “Top Ten Treasures” voting activity. Rare treasures that are being preserved in the museum are highlighted to people around the world for the first time.
Heritage - The Buddha Museum holds the Underground Palace Treasures Enshrinement Ceremony every year. There are 48 underground palaces built to collect cultural items, including Buddhist artifacts and items symbolic of the modern age, world civilization, and Taiwanese culture. These items preserve the memories of human civilization.
Education - Environmental education is the ultimate goal of the Buddha Museum. Since the Buddha Museum opened, the natural landscapes have become a lively and interactive campus for field trips. The “Buddhist Botanical Gardens,” carrying both religious and educational functions, was officially unveiled on Arbor Day, March 12, 2022.
Tolerance - When Buddha Meets The Gods is held on December 25 every year at the Buddha Museum. Due to Venerable Master Hsing Yun’s ingenuity and dedication, temples in Taiwan have participated in the event enthusiastically. Venerable Master Hsing Yun says, “all religions should maintain mutual harmony, respect, tolerance, and communication, and seek common grounds while embracing differences.”
The Buddha Museum follows the guidelines of Humanistic Buddhism as propagated by Venerable Master Hsing Yun, and caters to social and public needs by staying in line with new museum definitions.
