Hsi Lai Temple
The Hsi Lai Temple in the Puente Hills of Hacienda Heights serves as the North American regional headquarters for the Fo Guang Shan Buddhist order founded in Taiwan. The name Hsi Lai, which means “coming west,” is fitting as it is the order’s first overseas branch temple. Hsi Lai Temple encompasses 15 acres and a floor area of over 100,000 square feet. After several attempts to establish their headquarters elsewhere in the Los Angeles area failed, the building of the temple at its current location survived six public hearings and more than 100 community meetings before being granted a building permit in 1985. At the time of its completion in 1988, it was the largest Buddhist temple in the United States. The temple’s architecture, gardens and statuary are faithful to the traditional style of Chinese monasteries from the Ming and Qing dynasties.
Hacienda Heights, Los Angeles County
Photographer: Jim Albert