Department of Product and Media Design, Fo Guang University

Introduction

" Hundreds of realms and thousands of suchnesses " encompasses the Buddhist concept of the universe and all things within it. In particular, we often encounter diverse elements and perspectives in design. At these times, designers need to look beyond appearances, deeply understand the essence of things, and find their commonalities. This understanding not only helps us create more inclusive solutions but also allows us to see the common point between seemingly different needs and problems in the design process.
The Madhyamaka philosophy of Buddhism emphasizes the interdependence of all things, which is equally applicable in the field of design. The connections and interdependence among different elements in design are indispensable. When designers are able to consider how to make these elements work together to create a harmonious and functional whole, better design results will be achieved.
Furthermore, the Buddhist concept of "emptiness" reminds us that the essence of things is not fixed or void. This mindset encourages designers to maintain an open mind and seek inspiration and innovative solutions from countless possibilities. Thus, the meaning of " hundreds of realms and thousands of suchnesses " in design is to approach design challenges from diverse-interconnected perspectives and encourages us to maintain creative and open-minded thinking when facing problems.