This year marks the 60th Anniversary of the Founding of the People's Republic of China. “6” is an auspicious number in Buddhism. A lot of Buddhist terms are formed by the number of “6” such as The Six Appearances, The Six Regions, The Six Causes, The Six Dust, The Six Paths, The Six Organs, The Six Acts, The Six Luck, The Six Conditions, The Six Thoughts, The Six Powers, The Six Stages, The Six Realizations, The Six Places, The Six Elements, The Six Access, The Six Desires, The Six Wisdoms...Thanks to the advice from The Hong Kong Buddhist Association, to take part in The Silk Road Arts Festival has been initiated by the Home Affairs Bureau. Golden light shone on me that very night as if His Holiness directed that the time is right for those entrusted treasures to be shared with the blessed devotees fortunately chosen during this very auspicious year of the National celebration. In this turbulent world, we particularly need the wisdom of Manjusri to help sever all worries with his sword of wisdom.

On behalf of the Champion Technology Group, A Better Tomorrow, Chinese World Cultural Heritage Foundation, and World Cultural Relics Protection Foundation, I would like to express my gratitude to all parties involved in making this Exhibition possible, and in particular, I would like to thank Mr. Tsang Tak Sing, JP, Secretary for Home Affairs of the HKSAR, Consuls-General, government officials, and all prominent guests including those from the Mainland, notably Mr. Jiang Jian Yong, Vice-Minister of the State Administration for Religious Affairs of PRC, and overseas for attending the opening ceremony, making it a memorable and meaningful occasion.

This Commemorative Journal documents in detail Buddhist arts, treasures, and the collection of exhibits on display. First and foremost, I have to thank The Venerable Master Yi Cheng, President of the Buddhist Association of China, and The Most Ven. Kok Kwong, GBS, President of the Hong Kong Buddhist Association for sending us their inscriptions. My thanks also go to my mentor, The Venerable Sheng Yi for his blessings and a rare photo of Manjusri. I also want to express my sincere appreciation to the respected scholars: Mr. Tang Hoi-chiu, Chief Curator of the Hong Kong Museum of Art and Dr. Joseph S. P. Ting, Honourary Fellow of the Hong Kong Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society who have kindly furnished us with their messages. Their participation has made the journal all the more profound, turning it into an insightful monumental masterpiece and inspiring the true meaning of “peace and harmony”.

I need to thank the Consuls-General who have kindly participated by contributing their messages: Mr. Les Luck of Australia; Mr. Rudolf Hykl of the Czech Republic; Mr. Jørgen Møllegaard of Denmark; Ambassador Magda Nasr of Egypt; Mr. Timo Rajakangas of Finland; Mr. L. D. Ralte of India; Mr. Amikam Levy of Israel; Mr. Alessandro De Pedys of Italy; Mr. Aung Kyaw Oo of the Union of Myanmar; Mr. Robert Schuddeboom of the Kingdom of the Netherlands; Ms Adele Bryant of New Zealand; Mr. Przemyslaw M. Jenke of the Republic of Poland; Mr. Lars Danielsson of Sweden; Mr. Hans J. Roth of Switzerland; and Mr. Andrew Seaton of the United Kingdom. I am truly grateful to them for sparing their valuable time this summer in writing us those wonderful messages. For those who have not been in touch because of the summer holiday, your kind thoughts are also well appreciated.

Thanks to Mr. Lai Yat Kwong (Nyingma Dudjom Treasar Lineage Holder Choring Ozer), Executive Director of Kantone Holdings Limited, for writing a beautiful Epilogue. Moreover, I would also like to express my deepest gratitude to The Hong Kong Vajrayana Esoteric Society for its continuous support.

Above all, I would like to thank those who have dedicated wholeheartedly to the planning and co-ordination of the Exhibition. They are members of the Editorial Committee, Curators' Committee, Research Team, Graphic Design Unit, Website Design Team, and Coordination Unit.

I hope I have covered all in the above. Had I missed your name by any chance, you can be sure that my hearty thanks are always with you. May I wish you health, success, and prosperity.

Paul Kan