What is "woodenfish"

Woodenfish Foundation, previously known as "Woodenfish Project," is an international non-sectarian, non-governmental organization with operations in the United States and P.R. China. Venerable Dr. Yifa founded the "Woodenfish Project" in 2002 at Fo Guang Shan monastery in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. The initial flagship program, "Humanistic Buddhist Monastic Life Program" aims to allow students from around the world to authentically experience Humanistic Buddhism for one month each summer within a monastic context.

In the past 13 years, Woodenfish program alumni and Venerable Yifa have driven the organizational growth to expand into programming in the United States and mainland China. Woodenfish Foundation became a registered 501(c)(3) in the state of California in 2007. Between 2009 and 2015, Woodenfish has run 13 programs in mainland China. In 2015, Woodenfish opened a New York headquarters and hired its first full-time staff.

In its second decade, Woodenfish continues to build its base within mainland China and the United States, aiming to fulfill its mission to the greatest extent and offer opportunities for scholastic inquiry and collaboration, and contemplative and cross-cultural peace training.

The namesake comes from the wooden fish instrument, the most common religious musical instrument used in Chinese, Korean and Japanese Buddhism.