請用英文介紹志蓮淨苑!!40分!!40分呀!!

Chi Lin Nunnery (traditional Chinese: 志蓮淨苑) is Buddhist nunnery in Diamond Hill, New Kowloon, Hong Kong. The present-day buildings have been rebuilt and their style is of Tang architecture. The beautiful garden in front of the nunnery is open to the public free of charge.
Its buildings are the only ones to be built with wooden rooftops in modern Hong Kong, without the use of a single nail in its construction. This is based on a unique architectural style from the Tang Dynasty which uses special interlocking systems cut into the wood for construction.
Covering a space of 30,000 square meters, Chi Lin Nunnery has strikingly beautiful statues of the Sakyamuni Buddha, the goddess of mercy Guanyin and other bodhisattvas. These statues are made from gold, clay, wood and stone.

2008-06-16 20:50:39 補充：
Chi Lin Nunneny is located on Diamond Hill, it was rebuilt on 1989
and completed on 6 January 1998 with over 3 hectale site,
only wooden dowelling and brackets was used in the building,
comprising various Buddhist Halls,
is a living museum of the Tang Dynasty.
From Diamond Hill MTR exit C1.

2008-06-16 20:52:55 補充：
The Chi Lin Nunnery is built on an area of over 33,000 m2 with facilities for elderly services, library, school, nunnery, a pagoda and various worship temples.The timber structures are to relive the ancient Tang dynasty modus coupling with modern technology and philosophy.

2008-06-16 20:53:08 補充：
The “Ze-jiao” columns which slant inwardly (as the legs of a chair) as opposed to absolute verticality.
The “Sheng-qi” column disposition by progressive increase in length towards interior, thereby focusing the balance of the system towards the centre.

2008-06-16 20:53:44 補充：
The “tou-kung” system which dates back to about 500BC is a built-up timber bracket cluster to support the cantilevered eaves and transfer the load to the columns.

2008-06-16 20:53:55 補充：
Each bracket set is an interlocking layered assembly of three-dimensional timber elements of bearing block, bracket arm, slanted lever arm, small beam and beam head.

2008-06-16 20:54:06 補充：
High water resistant tree barks placed under roof tiles for a service free water-proofing system.

2008-06-16 20:54:23 補充：
The timber building has to cater for the local environmental conditions for its longevity. The humidity, temperature and rainfall characters of Hong Kong are disposed for insect attack. In summer, the buildings are to withstand severe typhoons.

2008-06-16 20:54:42 補充：
Finite element analysis of the intricate load-transferring bracket systems to verify the structural viability, performance and geometric proportion of the ancient designs

2008-06-16 20:54:51 補充：
Introducing stainless steel pins concealed in the “tou-kung” system as stability enhancement and anti-typhoon devices
Built-in steel wind frames

2008-06-16 20:55:02 補充：
Implementing fire engineering approach and active provisions to ascertain fire safety
Analysis of meteorological history to assess the equilibrium moisture content for timber design

2008-06-16 20:55:13 補充：
Tubes filled with chlorine based insect repellent embedded underground to prevent white ant attack
Detailed measurement of each component for preliminary computer mock-up study and record before shipment for erection
laser-cutting of timber elements

2008-06-16 20:56:04 補充：
The selection of material, design, fabrication and installation procedures were all meticulously studied according to the properties and available quantity of the timber.The roof is topped with over 238,000 pieces of ‘smoked-baked’ tiles anchored to the purlins .

2008-06-19 20:06:41 補充：
志蓮淨苑（Chi Lin Nunnery）是香港一個佛教非牟利慈善團體，屬下設有安老院、佛教志蓮小學、佛教志蓮中學、志蓮淨苑文化部、志蓮淨苑夜書院、志蓮淨苑圖書館。此外，志蓮淨苑亦定期舉行法會。

2008-06-19 20:06:52 補充：
志蓮淨苑的院址位於香港九龍鑽石山志蓮道五號，該院寺堂以仿唐代木結構建築為特色，與周邊的斧山公園及南蓮園池結合為大型的仿唐建築群，是香港的特色建築及景點之一。志蓮淨苑亦是香港唯一的「女眾十方叢林」，為從各地而來的各方女高僧提供修道場所。

2008-06-19 20:07:05 補充：
1934年由葦庵法師和覺一法師，在藍昌源等居士協助下，成立一所佛教女眾十方叢林，作為供僧侶清修的場地。由於大量難民隨著國共內戰影響而湧入香港，不少聚居於黃大仙及鑽石山一帶的木屋區，社會福利服務的需求甚大，志蓮淨苑於1948年開辦義學為貧窮兒童提供教育機會。1957年開辦非牟利的孤兒院及安老院，收容貧苦無依。

2008-06-19 20:07:19 補充：
1980年代，香港政府因興建大老山隧道而清拆志蓮淨苑及周邊的木屋區，政府的市區重整計劃及熱心人士的支持（特別是藝術界的積極參與），造就了志蓮淨苑的重建計劃，首先重建護理安老院、志蓮中心，隨著是佛寺、學校、蓮苑等。志蓮淨苑的重建工程於1989年展開，全部重建工程於2000年5月18日正式落成啟用

2008-06-19 20:07:33 補充：
志蓮淨苑的殿堂是以中國唐代傳統木構建築為藍木，採用天然建材，殿堂的木構件，均以榫接方式結合，不須使用釘子，比例和諧優美。殿堂供奉的佛菩薩像依據佛經描述，參照盛唐造像風格，厚重端麗，其造型、手印、執持法器各異，彰顯諸佛菩薩特有的願力和德行。

2008-06-19 20:07:54 補充：
整個殿堂南、東、西邊設三個大門，分別是「山門」、「東門」及「西門」。整體建築佈局為「三進一院」：

第一進
山門
蓮池
長廊
天王殿
鐘樓
鼓樓
第二進
大雄殿
客堂
藥師殿
祖堂
觀音殿
臥佛殿
淨土經變圖

2008-06-19 20:08:07 補充：
第三進
葦公紀念堂/五觀堂
法堂
藏經樓
方丈室
念佛堂
一院
萬佛塔

Remembered the lotus park to originate only in 1934, foundation member reed hut master has originally intended to construct a traditional type temple for the monks to repair clear, because latter the internal migration welled up massively to, at that time the society to the welfare service demand was earnest really, therefore decided that put aside temporarily constructs the temple plan, the original ancient big room will change Buddhist temple hall, but devoted to the education and the welfare service. First set up the free school in 1948, provided the educational opportunity for the nearby poor dropout, subsequently set up the non-government subsidization in 1957 not to seek money the kind young courtyard and the residential care home, accepted the orphan and old person all alone.

1980, the social economy changed for the better, the kind young service demand sharp decline, the kind young courtyard by considered closes down, because Hong Kong population got older unceasingly, the park then devoted to develop An Lao only to serve, and promoted the Buddhism culture work.

in 1991, will remember the lotus park the original residential care home reconstruction will be the nursing residential care home only, the first phase completed at the end of 1993, is equipped with sleeps position 184, the second phase completed at the end of 1995, at that time slept the position is 284. But to December, 1999, slept the position to increase to 318.