Hall of Bliss

The Hall of Bliss blends clean-lined minimalism with influences of Hui-style architecture, which dates back to the Song Dynasty in ancient China. Hui-style artisans were fond of ornate carvings that capture snapshots of life and famed for their know-how in bringing out the innate beauty of raw surfaces.

Their legacy is interpreted in more ways than one in this memorial hall, whose column walls feature interlocking motifs of stylised swastikas - sacred Buddhist symbols synonymous with the eternal cycle of life - amidst a burnished bronze cladding.

Likewise, the facade of each niche is stacked with cutouts of swirling, rhinestone-studded clouds against a rough-hewn surface. The layered composition is symbolic of the interconnectedness between the idyllic charm of Heaven and the tribulations of life on Earth.

A portrait of Guan Yin and the texts of Buddhist prayers are inscribed on a glass mirror, giving the central display a beautiful, multi-dimensional effect that’s reminiscent of the boundless compassion and grace Guan Yin is revered for.

To help the souls entrusted to her care achieve bliss and traverse the realms, Guan Yin is often seen carrying a vase and a willow branch, as depicted in her monument overlooking the hall. These are both emblems of her divine power, with the vase containing an elixir known as Amrita (meaning immortality in Sanskrit) and the willow branch used to sprinkle it on each soul to soothe any pain or suffering.