About Furman
From its position as a top-ranked independent, coeducational liberal arts college of 2,600, Furman University takes great pride in its impressive 750-acre campus, its gifted student body, its distinguished and active faculty, and in the many notable accomplishments of its alumni.
Furman emphasizes engaged learning, a hands-on, problem solving and collaborative educational philosophy that encourages students to put into practice the theories and methods learned from texts and lectures.
Campus Feature: The Place of Peace
A recent addition to campus is the Japanese temple. The former Buddhist temple and Asia Garden that sits adjacent to it are known as The Place of Peace. Furman was given this rare and special gift by the Tsuzuki family of Nagoya, Japan through the Tsuzuki’s connection to Furman professor David Shaner, who taught Aikido to a family member many years ago.
Construction
Transporting the temple from Japan was no easy process. Brought over in more than 2,400 pieces, special wood-braced containers were created to keep the original temple pieces safe during the voyage. Arriving in Greenville after a trip through the Panama Canal and an entry into the Port of Charleston, the temple was reconstructed by 13 specialized artisans from Japan.
The precision and skill by which the temple was carefully transported and reconstructed emphasizes the sacredness of such a building, a sacredness and uniqueness that marks this temple as the only structure of its kind in the United States.
After the dedication ceremony on September 5, 2008, The Place of Peace now serves as a symbol of Furman’s commitment to its quickly growing Asian Studies Program and to environmental sustainability.
Features
The temple uses no electricity or heating and is made of incredibly hard, durable and long-lasting Keyaki wood. Also, the temple is built in such a way that it can be taken apart and reconstructed without having to throw away a single part.
Along with its sustainability, The Place of Peace is in harmony with its Furman environment. The entrance to the temple is in line with the waterfall of Furman’s Asia Garden, which is back-dropped by the rising and rolling Blue Ridge Mountains. On Furman’s campus, the temple is literally a beautiful piece of Japan transported right into the foothills of South Carolina.
