At the launch ceremony.

The launching ceremony of the "Digital Museum of Buddhist Culture Heritage", the world's first, was held on November 2nd, at the Benhuan Institute in Shenzhen.

The Venerable Monk Yinshun, Vice Chairman of the China Buddhist Association, along with Alan Macfarlane, professor of King's College (University of Cambridge) and Director of the British Foundation for the Preservation of a World Facing Extinction, as well as around one hundred students and teachers of the institute attended the ceremony.

The Venerable Monk Yinshun giving a speech. 

Professor Alan Macfarlane giving a speech.  

The "Digital Museum of Buddhist Culture Heritage" aims to collect, organize, research, and exhibit Chinese Buddhist cultural relics overseas. It will collaborate with the museums, libraries, foundations, and other related agencies in Britain and other European countries in order to conduct the selection and research of collectibles around various themes and to build a digital museum.

Digital and photo exhibitions will be held in Britain, China, Nepal, Myanmar, Thailand, Sri Lanka, and other countries.  Each program will run for five years, and a new theme will be unveiled each year.

Current topics being planned include:

1. Journeys of Chinese monks; the cultural exchange between Eastern and Western cultures;

2. Buddhist influence on material culture (part 1: architecture, statues, etc.);