Chung Tian Temple¹ is a Buddhist temple and monastery of the Fo Guang Shan² monastic order, located in Logan on the outskirts of Brisbane. Named “Chung Tian” (中天, Middle Heavens) by Venerable Master Hsing Yun (1927-2023), the title draws on an epithet of Śākyamuni Buddha as “the One who guides and harmonises beings in the Middle Heavens.” The temple serves as a public space for spiritual cultivation, cultural exchange, education, and the promotion of peace and wellbeing. 

Situated on 87 acres near a natural reserve, the complex includes the Bodhisattva Hall, a pagoda, the Water Drop Teahouse, a meditation hall, exhibition spaces, and landscaped gardens. As at the time of writing, the Main Shrine (the Tathāgata Hall) is nearing completion. 

The temple’s origins trace back to 1989, when Venerable Master Hsing Yun visited Brisbane and local devotees expressed the wish to establish a temple. The Chung Tian Buddhist Centre was first founded to support communal practice, before the temple’s official opening and consecration in 1993.³ 

Guided by Fo Guang Shan’s commitment to Humanistic Buddhism,⁴ the temple has a strong focus on education and community engagement. It established the Chung Tian Chinese School⁵ in 1992 and Queensland’s first Buddhist scout group in 2018. Buddha’s Light International Association Queensland chapter (BLIAQ)⁶ and its Loving Care Group remain active in cultural and charitable initiatives, earning a Cultural Impact Award from Logan City Council in 2026. From 1997 to 2019, the temple hosted the Buddha’s Birthday Festival⁷ at South Bank, one of the largest Vesak celebrations in the Southern Hemisphere, now held on temple grounds. 

By: Sioh Yang Tan, Juewei Shi 

References: 

¹ “Fo Guang Shan Chung Tian Temple,” FGS Chung Tian, accessed July 3, 2026, https://www.fgschungtian.org.au. 

² “Fo Guang Shan Monastery Worldwide Web,” Fo Guang Shan, accessed July 3, 2026, https://www.fgs.org.tw/en/. 

³ Nan Tien Temple Eeditorial tTeam, ed.. (2017). Fo guang zu ji Dayang Zhou 28 = Buddha footprints in Oceania: 28 years of Buddhist Dharma propagation by Fo Guang Shan Australia, New Zealand. / Editor: Nan Tien Temple editorial team. Berkeley NSW : Fo Guang Shan Nan Tien Temple, 2017. 

⁴ “Humanistic Buddhism,” FGS Chung Tian, accessed July 3, 2026, https://www.fgschungtian.org.au/humanistic-buddhism. 

⁵ “Chinese School (CTCSQ),” FGS Chung Tian, accessed July 3, 2026, https://www.fgschungtian.org.au/chungtian-chinese-school-of-queensland. 

⁶ “Buddha’s Light Int Assoc. QLD,” FGS Chung Tian, accessed July 3, 2026, https://www.fgschungtian.org.au/buddha-s-light-int-assoc-qld. 

⁷ “Buddha Birth Day Festival,” Buddha Birth Day Festival, accessed July 3, 2026, https://www.buddhabirthdayfestival.com.au.