Fo Guang Shan Thai Hua Si consists of an immense elevated courtyard that is enclosed by enormous temple buildings  and can be accessed by a staircase flaกked by stone Imperial Guardian Lions (fig.).

The complex' octa-gonal pagoda has 5-storeys (fig.), of which the odd number corres-ponds to the yang principle within the yin-yang concept, i.e. the bright aspect, which sym-bolizes Enlighten-ment.

Opposite of the pagoda is a tall gilded statue of Kuan Yin elevated on a golden lotus flower atop a building of which the outer roof edge is surrounded by smaller statues of this goddess of Mercy.

From the inner yard, both the pagoda and the statue of Kuan Yin are visible as they rise well above the main buildings' rooftops.