Nepalese Peace Pagoda facts for kids
The Nepal Peace Pagoda is a special building in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It stands in the South Bank Parklands, which used to be the site of World Expo '88. This pagoda is one of the most important old buildings left from the Expo. It is also the only international exhibit that stayed on the site after the Expo finished.
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How the Pagoda Began
In 1986, the United Nations declared it the International Year of Peace. Because of this, the country of Nepal decided to join World Expo '88. A group called the Association to Preserve Asian Culture was asked to build the Pagoda. Their job was also to run it during the Expo and find a new home for it afterwards.
Building the Pagoda
A German architect named Jochen Reier designed the Peace Pagoda for Nepal. First, about 80 tonnes of special wood from Nepal's Terai jungle forest was gathered. This wood was then taken to Kathmandu, Nepal's capital city. There, 160 Nepalese families worked for two years to carve all the different parts of the pagoda.
After carving, the parts were shipped to Australia in large containers. A small team of Australian workers, guided by Nepalese experts, put the pagoda together at the Expo site. The final building only took a few days to assemble for World Expo 88 in Brisbane.
The Pagoda During Expo '88
The Pagoda had three levels, with a lovely tea house on the second floor. It was one of the few buildings at the Expo that was completely hand-crafted. Because of its beauty, the Pagoda quickly became one of the most popular and photographed spots at the Expo.
Towards the end of the Expo, a group called "Friends of the Pagoda" started a petition. They wanted to keep the Pagoda in Brisbane after the Expo ended. About 70,000 people signed this petition!
Sir Edmund Hillary, the first person to climb Mount Everest, visited the Pagoda as a special guest on August 8, 1988.
Art and Spiritual Meaning
The Brisbane Pagoda is one of only three Nepal Peace Pagodas outside of Nepal. The other two are in Munich, Germany, and Osaka, Japan. It looks a lot like the Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu.
The Pagoda is filled with important Hindu and Buddhist art. You can see different forms of Shiva, who is a Hindu god. There are also statues of buddhas in various states of meditation, shown by their hand gestures called mudras. You can also spot the eight special symbols of Buddhism. Inside, there is a sacred statue of Avalokiteshvara, who is the Buddhist god of kindness.
The Pagoda also has a Peace Bell and two smaller side buildings. There's a Buddhist stupa (a mound-like structure for meditation) and a Peace Post. This post has a message for World Peace written in four languages: Japanese, French, Spanish, and English. You can also see Sanskrit prayer chants carved on the roof edges of the side buildings. The symbol for "om" is above the main door.
Even though it's not a regular Hindu or Buddhist temple, the Pagoda is sometimes used for special events. These include weddings, private parties, and book launches. Many visitors also use the benches inside the first level for their own quiet meditation. The South Bank Corporation looks after the Pagoda.
After the Expo Ended
After Expo '88, the "Friends of the Pagoda" worked hard to keep the building in Brisbane. Brisbane City Council Councillor David Hinchliffe led this effort. They talked to government officials and asked for private donations. Their campaign was a big success, especially thanks to a last-minute donation from retirees Mr. and Mrs. Frank and Myra Pitt.
Many ideas were suggested for where to move the Pagoda, including the Queensland Art Gallery and the City Botanic Gardens. But in the end, South Bank Parklands was chosen as its new home by the river. The Pagoda became part of the parklands when they opened in June 1992.
20th Anniversary of Expo '88
In 2008, people celebrated the 20th anniversary of World Expo '88. The Foundation Expo '88 and the "Friends of the Pagoda Association" held a special photo exhibition and displayed Expo '88 souvenirs at the Pagoda. Some of these souvenirs are still shown today.
The Queensland branch of the Nepal Australia Friendship Association (NAFA) also had displays. They showed posters, pamphlets, and crafts from Nepal at the Pagoda. This was part of the World Expo '88 20th Anniversary Community Day on Saturday, May 10, 2008.
To mark this and other big Expo anniversaries, John McGregor from the Friends of the Pagoda offers special guided tours. You can ask for these tours at the Pagoda. For more information, you can visit the website http://celebrate88.com/friendsofthepagoda/.
Images for kids
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The Nepalese Peace Pagoda with the Wheel of Brisbane in the background.
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A view of the back of the pagoda.
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A bronze plaque with information.
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A bronze bell outside the main pagoda.
