Digital Exhibition on Chinese American History in Redmond Launched :
Seattle Ling Shen Ching Tze Temple Invited as Honored Guest, Witnessing Cross-Generational Cultural Heritage
[Seattle LSCTT / Report by LC]

At 1:00 PM on January 17, 2026, the digital exhibition launch of ‘Redmond’s Historical Tapestry: Preserving Chinese American Legacies,’ jointly organized by the Redmond Historical Society and the Little Masters Club, was held with great success at the Redmond Library. Ling Shen Ching Tze Temple or LSCTT (a.k.a Seattle Lei Zang Temple) was featured as one of the key subjects of the research and was invited to attend as an honored guest. Master Lian Chi delivered remarks in English (see appendix for full text) on behalf of the temple, witnessing the precious chapter of Chinese immigrant history interwoven with the local community.

From a Student Interview to a Cultural Milestone
The origin of this exhibition can be traced back to August 14, 2025, when a Chinese American history research team composed of high school students Meiling and Yixuan visited Ling Shen Ching Tze Temple for an in-depth interview (see appendix for the news link). Arranged by the organizers, Master Lian Chi personally received the students and introduced the temple’s journey since its founding in 1985, including its religious mission, community service, charitable relief, and cultural education efforts.
The interview was later compiled into a research report (see appendix for full text) and became an important part of this digital exhibition. What began as a school research project has now evolved into a public exhibition, marking the successful completion of this historical exploration. This digital exhibition is fully accessible online, featuring photographs, images, videos, and detailed research reports for each topic. The exhibition can be viewed at:
https://chinese-american-legacies.redmondhistoricalsociety.org
(A bilingual summary of the digital exhibition is included in the appendix of this article.) Warm and Lively Atmosphere Filled with Cultural Exchange
Before the event began, Master Lian Chi arrived at the venue and was warmly welcomed by Ms. Li Chen, director of the Little Masters Club, and student researcher Meiling. More than a hundred community members and guests attended, creating a friendly and vibrant atmosphere.
Bilingual brochures introducing Ling Shen Ching Tze Temple were displayed next to the refreshment table, attracting many visitors to read and learn more. At the back of the venue, five large display panels introduced highlights of the digital exhibition, with the rightmost panel featuring photos and an overview of Ling Shen Ching Tze Temple. Booths were also set up on both sides, offering cultural crafts, interactive activities, and consultation services, reflecting the organizers’ vision of bringing history closer to everyday life through hands-on engagement.
 
A delightful coincidence also occurred: among the guests, Master Lian Chi met Dharma Sister Qiu, a fellow practitioner working at Microsoft, who came to the event after seeing the temple mentioned on the poster. She later participated in the trivia session following the presentations and won a prize for answering a question correctly—adding another joyful moment to the day. Opening Ceremony: Dignified and Diverse
The program began at 12:45 PM with warm-up music by the CHIME Band, and the official ceremony started at 1:00 PM:

• Opening remarks and certificate presentation by Halee Turner, manager of the Redmond Historical Society, and John Oftebro, board president
• Presentations by student researchers
• Remarks and appreciation gifts presented by Li Chen of the Little Masters Club
• Speeches by City Councilmembers Angie Nuevacamina and Menka Soni
• Speech by Master Lian Chi on behalf of Ling Shen Ching Tze Temple
• Remarks by a representative from CISC
• Performance by the CHIME Band (composed of Chinese Microsoft engineers)

After the councilmembers’ speeches, Manager Halee Turner expressed special gratitude to the King County Library System, the Redmond Police Department, and the Evangelical Chinese Church of Seattle for their support and sponsorship. A police officer attended as a representative, and the church also set up a service booth, demonstrating the strength of cross-community collaboration.
Following the ceremony, the CHIME Band energized the atmosphere, blending Western music with the traditional sound of the Chinese suona (嗩吶) for a unique cross-cultural experience. The event continued until 4:00 PM with cultural arts, crafts, and interactive activities, offering both historical depth and joyful engagement. Ling Shen Ching Tze Temple: An Important Page in Local History
Founded in 1985, Ling Shen Ching Tze Temple is the first Chinese Buddhist temple established in Redmond. For four decades, guided by the teachings of its founder Living Buddha Lian Sheng, the temple has been dedicated not only to spiritual cultivation but also to community service, including:

• Annual support for the ACRS “Walk for Rice” food bank
• Winter relief for underprivileged families
• Health seminars, cultural programs, and charity fairs
• Support for education and immigrant assistance projects

During her presentation, researcher Meiling especially thanked the temple for its long-term contributions to the community. Photos of the temple’s activities were shown on the screen, allowing the younger generation to witness the intersection of faith, culture, and immigrant life. A Reunion of “Yuan Fen” After 28 Years
In his speech, Master Lian Chi shared a touching story: on November 14, 1997, the Temple donated a collection of books written by its founder, Living Buddha Lian Sheng, to the Redmond Library. Twenty-eight years later, standing in the same library to speak at this historical exhibition, he deeply felt the Chinese wisdom of “yuan fen” (destined connection)—a bond that brings people, places, and hearts together across time. His remarks concluded with warm and loud applause from the audience.
After the remarks, Ms. Li Chen praised the meaningful message and presented a lovely panda plush as a token of appreciation, symbolizing the warmth and friendship of Chinese culture. Ms. Li also expressed that if the Temple holds related cultural or community events in the future, the Little Masters Club would be delighted to participate and work together to promote mutual exchange. A Bridge Across Generations
The organizers emphasized that this exhibition, driven by the curiosity and passion of local high school students, not only looks back on the past but also inspires the future. The Little Masters Club is committed to nurturing young researchers, and the participation of Meiling, Yixuan, and other students represents the best example of passing on the torch of history.
Ling Shen Ching Tze Temple also hopes that through this platform, more people will come to understand the footsteps and spiritual values of Chinese immigrants in Redmond. Completion and Outlook
From the interview in August 2025 to the digital exhibition launch in January 2026, this journey has witnessed the positive interaction among academia, community, and religion. Ling Shen Ching Tze Temple feels deeply honored to be part of this research and looks forward to continued cooperation with local organizations so that compassion, culture, and history may continue to flourish in Redmond.
May understanding, friendship, and goodwill continue to flow in this city.
   
Appendix
 
I .  Speech given by Master Lian Chi
Dear friends of the Redmond Historical Society, Little Masters Club, and honored guests,
Good afternoon!
On behalf of Ling Shen Ching Tze Temple, also known as Lei Zang Temple, we are truly honored to participate in this project.  This exhibition reminds us that history is not only about the past, but about the kindness and contributions of many communities walking together.
 
We sincerely thank the student researcher Meiling for sharing our temple’s story and for highlighting our community and charity work. Your passion shows that the next generation is becoming the bridge between cultures and histories.
 
Last night, as I was reviewing our temple’s history, I came across a meaningful moment from November 14, 1997—more than 28 years ago—when our temple donated a collection of books written by our founder, Grandmaster Sheng-Yen Lu, to the Redmond Library.  Today, as I stand here in this very same library to speak, I deeply feel the Chinese wisdom of yuan fen (緣分)—a beautiful, destined connection that brings people, places, and hearts together across time.
 
May this project continue to inspire understanding, compassion, and friendship in Redmond. Thank you all.  
II.  Information and Links of the Organizers and Honored Guests:

1. Redmond City Council

https://www.redmond.gov/189/City-Council
 

2. Redmond Historical Society – a non-profit organization

https://www.redmondhistoricalsociety.org
 

3. Little Masters Club – a non-profit organization

https://littlemastersclub.org
 

4. Ling Shen Ching Tze Temple 

   https://english.tbsseattle.org    III. Research Findings and Related Links to the Digital Exhibition

1. Redmond's Historical Tapestry: Preserving Chinese American Legacies

** Online Exhibits: https://chinese-american-legacies.redmondhistoricalsociety.org
** Chapter 7: Community & Faith (Temple coverage): https://chinese-american-legacies.redmondhistoricalsociety.org/community
** Acknowledgements (Temple coverage): https://chinese-american-legacies.redmondhistoricalsociety.org/acknowledgements
 

2. Temple News : Ling Shen Ching Tze Temple Welcomes Redmond Chinese History Research Team ( 2025年8月)

https://tbsseattle.org/site/infodetails?ref=LNW_F19A6K7Y
 

3. 主辦單位的官網活動宣傳:

https://www.redmondhistoricalsociety.org/events/celebrating-chinese-american-legacies-in-redmond  
IV. Bilingual Summary of the Digital Exhibition
The summary of this digital exhibition, based on the research findings, is organized into the following sections: Introduction, Immigration History, Early Settlers, Business Contributions, Technology Industry, Arts and Culture, Community and Faith, and Acknowledgements.
**************************************
Research Report
Redmond's Historical Tapestry: Preserving Chinese American Legacies
 
Chapter 1: Introduction & Project Background
This digital exhibit, launched in early 2025, is a milestone collaboration between the Redmond Historical Society and the Little Masters Club. Researched by local high school volunteers, the project uncovers the under-represented history of Chinese Americans in Redmond, documenting their journey from a small, isolated group to a vibrant, integral part of the city’s multicultural fabric.

• Mission: To bring hidden stories to light, foster community connection, and preserve cultural heritage for future generations.
• Methodology: Oral history interviews, archival research, and community outreach.

Chapter 2: Immigration & Legal Challenges
The history of Chinese Americans in Redmond is inextricably linked to the labor needs of the Pacific Northwest and the exclusionary laws of the era.

• Railroads and Labor: Chinese workers provided essential manual labor for the Seattle Lakeshore and Eastern Railway, which reached Redmond in 1889.
• Systemic Barriers:
  • The Chinese Exclusion Act (1882): The first significant law restricting immigration based on race.
  • The 1886 Anti-Chinese Riots: While violence broke out in nearby Seattle, Redmond figures like William H. White (a federal prosecutor) worked to uphold the law against the mobs.
  • Alien Land Bills & Covenants: Discriminatory laws and housing covenants restricted Chinese residents from owning property in Redmond for decades.

Chapter 3: Early Chinese Residents in Redmond

• Earliest Records: The 1910 Census identifies Ah Ming and Sick Kee as cooks at the Campbell Mill logging camp, marking some of the earliest recorded Chinese residents in the area.
• The Story of You Hong Woo (1907–1986):
  • A prominent figure who immigrated in 1922 and settled on Union Hill in 1948.
  • He built his own home and was known for his "back-to-the-land" lifestyle, practicing Traditional Chinese Medicine and unique livestock herding.

Chapter 4: Business & Economic Contributions
Chinese entrepreneurship in Redmond evolved from survival-based services to modern, high-growth industries.

• Service & Cuisine:
  • Early residents turned to laundries and restaurants due to exclusion from other trades.
  • Redmond’s first major Chinese restaurant, Kwuntung Country, opened in 1972.
• Wellness: The legacy of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) continues today, with Redmond serving as a hub for acupuncture and holistic healthcare providers.
• Modern Commerce: Iconic brands like Dough Zone and Hui Lau Shan established presences in Redmond, reflecting the city's shifting demographics.

Chapter 5: The Tech Industry Wave
The 1980s marked a turning point with the arrival of major tech firms, drawing highly skilled Chinese professionals to Redmond.

• Microsoft’s Impact: Since moving to Redmond in 1985, Microsoft has become a primary employer. Asians (including many of Chinese descent) now represent over 35% of its workforce.
• CHIME (Chinese Microsoft Employee Network): Founded in 1992, it is one of the largest and most influential employee resource groups in the region.
• Niche Innovation: Local firms like MLOptics lead the global market in AR/VR metrology, showcasing Chinese American leadership in cutting-edge optical technology.

Chapter 6: Arts, Culture & Literature

• Visual Arts: Artists like Cheryll Leo-Gwin and Jing Jing Wang have contributed murals and asphalt art that explore themes of brotherhood and LGBTQIA+ inclusivity.
• Music: The CHIME Band, formed by Microsoft engineers in 2004, bridges Eastern and Western musical traditions using instruments like the erhu and pipa.
• Literary Voice: Former Redmond Poet Laureates Shin Yu Pai and Ching-In Chen have used poetry to explore identity and local logging history.

Chapter 7: Community Pillars & Faith

• CISC (Chinese Information and Service Center): Since the early 2000s, CISC has provided vital linguistically accessible services, supporting seniors, youth, and new immigrant families in Redmond.
• Evangelical Chinese Church (ECC): Established its Eastside campus in 2002. It serves as a spiritual and cultural anchor for over 1,300 weekly attendees, helping bridge generational gaps for second-generation youth.
• Ling Shen Ching Tze Temple (Lei Zang Temple): Founded in 1985 by Grandmaster Lu. As the first Chinese Buddhist temple in Redmond, it overcame early community resistance to become a global center for the True Buddha School. Its foundation has donated over $14 million to local healthcare and education.

Chapter 8: Acknowledgements

• Project Leadership: Youth Leader Meiling H. and Mentor Halee T. (Redmond Historical Society).
• Research Teams: High school volunteers focusing on Arts, Business, Community, Early Residents, Tech, and Immigration.
• Special Thanks: To Li Chen (Little Masters Club) and Jianguo Chen, whose vision and dedication made this preservation project possible.

 
V. A Research Report on Ling Shen Ching Tze Temple (Lei Zang Temple)  by Meiling Hou
 
The Ling Shen Ching Tze Temple (also known as Lei Zang Temple), located at 17012 NE 40th Ct, Redmond, was established in 1985. This year marks its 40th anniversary.
 
The founder, Living Buddha Lian Sheng Grandmaster Lu (original name: Sheng-Yen Lu), was born and raised in Taiwan before moving to Seattle at the age of 38. He received a BS degree majored in geological surveying, served as a military major, and once taught Sunday school at a local Christian church. At the age of 26, however, he experienced a miraculous event that opened his celestial eye. He subsequently dedicated years to studying Taoism, exoteric Buddhism, and Vajrayana Buddhism, growing under the guidance of highly realized spiritual mentors. Using Taoist practices, intuitive insight, and divination, he helped people in distress, transformed their destinies through Feng Shui, taught the law of cause and effect and inevitable retribution, and guided many to learn Buddhism. It was during this period that many disciples began to follow him.
 
In 1982, after traveling around the world, Grandmaster Lu chose to settle in Seattle to cultivate the True Buddha Vajrayana Dharma. Eight disciple families immigrated with him. They purchased a piece of land in Redmond from a local landlord, built eight houses along a cul-de-sac, and reserved the largest central plot for the temple. This marked the beginning of the Redmond Lei Zang Temple.
 
In the 1980s, there were still very few Chinese immigrants in Seattle, and even fewer Buddhists. At beginning, Grandmaster Lu and his family lived in Ballard. Guided by Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva, he came to Redmond and, by chance, discovered the site where the Ling Shen Ching Tze Temple now stands. He recognized its superb geomancy Feng Shui as a true “dragon land”: “a prominent “dragon head” hill with a solid backing (later the site of Microsoft), a bright “water mirror” in front (Lake Sammamish), protective arms on either side, and a beautiful “table mountain” reflected in the water. It was an ideal, pure, and solemn site for a Dharma hall for worship."[1]
 
Construction started on May 8th, 1983. The eight disciple families established a religious organization and got approval from Washington state government to build a temple. The design plan was submitted to the Redmond City Planning Commission for review. Unexpectedly, it was at this stage that they encountered greatest setback. Since Lei Zang temple was to be the first Chinese Buddha temple in Redmond’s history—and given that the United States was founded as a Christian nation—many residents attended the public hearings to voice their concerns and resistance: worries about lighting disturbing the peace at night, obstructed views, the noise of bells and drums, declining property values, increased traffic congestion, fire safety risks, and more. Over the course of three years, they went through twelve public hearings and countless explanations to local residents. In the end, the plan was finally approved, though the size of the temple was reduced significantly from the original design.
 
On September 14, 1985, the first-ever Lei Zang temple was officially completed and consecrated in Redmond, WA and the number of disciples increased to over 30,000 worldwide. On March 19, 1986, Grandmaster Lu formally received monastic ordination and  tonsure. Since then, the number of disciples had surged to 5,000,000 globally by year 2000. Every weekend, 200–300 disciples attended the Dharma assemblies in the Redmond temple, while the annual grand ceremonies drew tens of thousands of followers from around the world. Disciples included the first generation of disciples, their now 40- to 50-year-old children, as well as the third generation—many young people in their teens and twenties who came with their families to the temple. Today, there are over 100 Lei Zang Temples, 400+ chapters, and countless Dharma practice groups established around the world. The second Lei Zang Temple in Washington—the Rainbow Temple—was also established in North Bend in 1991. Each temple operates independently in terms of finance and administration, but they support one another spiritually.
 
The Redmond Lei Zang temple is not limited to its own religious activities; it has also been actively involved in community service and charitable work. To name a few: ever since the earlier years, it supported the Disabled American Veterans, Seattle Fire Department, Kin On Health Care Center, the Chinese Information and Service Center (CISC), Icra-Yat Sen Chinese School, UW East Asian Library through donations, and hosted memorial services for 9/11 victims in New York, Since 1997, the temple has participated annually in the Walk for Rice fundraising event for the Asian Counseling & Referral Service (ACRS) Food Bank, and donated winter clothing to Thrugood Marshall Elementary School and Facing Homelessness Center for people in need through the Winter Relief program. It also organized numerous health lectures, educational programs, cultural exhibitions and fun fairs to the local community.
 
In 2008, Grandmaster Lu founded the Sheng-Yen Lu Foundation (SYL Foundation), driven by the belief that the practice of compassion is an essential part of Buddhism and of life. Based on this mission, the SYL Foundation “primarily focuses on serving low-income immigrant and refugee communities in Washington’s King, Pierce and Snohomish counties. The grants benefit all people regardless of religion, race, age, national origin, ethnicity, gender, physical ability, sexual orientation, or political affiliation.”[2] They set up the Health and Education grants to provide equitable access to health care and education to immigrants and refugees; the Lotus Scholarship Program to provide scholarship for immigrant students to pursue higher education; the Justice Fund to help immigrants and refugees facing inequities and injustices; and the Rapid Response Fund in responding to the emergent need of immigrant and refugee-serving non-profit organizations. In August 2024 alone, Ling Shen Ching Tze Temple donated $200,000 to the SYL Foundation to support healthcare and educational opportunities for immigrants and underserved groups. Since 2008, over $14,000,000 grants were given to community organization and health institutions to help immigrants and refugees having equal access to health care, education and legal service, and 101 students from 36 countries received scholarship to pursue higher education.[3]
 
Grandmaster Lu is also a romantic and diligent poet, writer, and artist. To date, he has written 306 books, including poetry, prose, essays, and reflections on Buddhism. Stacked together, these books would reach a height of 4.2 meters (13′9″)—a level that many people could never hope to attain in a lifetime.
 
Note: this research report on the Lei Zang Temple is based on Meiling Hou and Yixuan Li’s interview with Master Lian Chi on August 12, 2025, the temple’s website information, as well as written material provided by Master Lian Chi.