Q&A: Founder of Buddhaland Guoying Stacy Zhang

February 14, 2025

Blockwind News editor-in-chief Tsering Namgyal spoke to Hong Kong-based Buddhist art historian Guoying Stacy Zhang, Founder of Buddhaland, on how her NFT works, what it entails and how it would transform individuals and thereby the world.

Q: What is the mission and objective of Buddhaland? Do you aim to “reclaim technology as a force for good”?

A: Buddhaland aims to reclaim blockchain as a force for good by merging art, spirituality, and innovation. Unlike many Web3 projects that prioritise quick profits, Buddhaland is committed to delivering real value —fostering personal growth and meaningful connections.

Our Genesis collection features 1,000 spiritual collectibles, exclusively for Buddhaland founding members, which unlocks access to our ecosystem and real-life privileges. Through this intentional approach, we’re reshaping the narrative around NFTs, ensuring they serve as tools for positive transformation.

Q: What are the key areas or pillars that you want to focus on in your digital-spiritual ecosystem? Why do you think people should buy Buddhaland NFT?

A: Our ecosystem is built on three pillars: Cultivate Insight, Create Art, and Make Merit. Members engage with leaders in art, spirituality, and technology, discover emerging artists, and gain exclusive access to their creative processes and works. Additionally, profits support projects that enhance mental, spiritual, and cultural well-being. By joining Buddhaland, members not only grow personally, but also create meaningful impact, fostering “good karma”.

Q: What are some of the spiritual collectibles you want to promote? You have plans to sell 1000 digital Buddha statues inspired by 1000-Buddha motif on your platform? Can you please elaborate what kind of statues and what forms?

A: The spiritual collectibles comprise 1,000 digital Buddhas, inspired by the thousand-Buddha motif. As a Buddhist art historian, this is how I reimagine spirituality for our time by blending tradition with innovation.

Each statue combines unique traits: 10 hairstyles from Buddhist cultures across two millennia, 8 hand gestures (mudras), 10 body materials (including ethereal elements like fire and rainbow), and 6 gemstone variations for the urna. The statues are crafted with voxels, visually interpreting the Buddhist concept of emptiness—a profound yet often misunderstood idea.

Q:  Can you elaborate a little bit on your minting site and minting process and smart contracts and how they work?

A: Our minting site is fully operational, and our smart contract is open-source and thoroughly audited for security. We accept both crypto payments and bank transfers. For bank transfers, our team will securely mint the NFT on their behalf and transfer the asset once a wallet address is provided.

Founding memberships are by invitation and referral, so one needs to fill in a form to be whitelisted. This ensures a secure and exclusive minting experience for our community. Our team is here to guide and support you through every step of the process.

Q: Can you tell us a bit about the background of any founding members or advisers you might have?

A: We’re fortunate to have two distinguished advisors: Uli Sigg and Ryan Zurrer, both renowned for their contributions to art and technology. Their expertise has been invaluable to our project.

Additionally, I’ve consulted informally with Buddhist masters from Chinese and Tibetan traditions, and many friends have supported us in various ways. Their guidance and generosity have been instrumental, and I’m deeply grateful for that.

Q: You also plan to initiate artist collaborations? Where do the artists come from and what kind of arts are they going to promote? Will there be physical art forms?

A: We collaborate with artists who have spiritual depth and create works that inspire—this is the essence of art for us. These artists come from diverse cultures. We are especially passionate about supporting artists from undermarketed regions.

Our artists work with various mediums, including painting, sculpture, VR, and performance art. I personally would love to explore co-ownership of performance art, adopting Web3 technology to redefine how art is shared and experienced.

Q: What are the membership fees and who are your potential members? Where do they come from? Are they just Buddhists or people of all spiritual and religious orientations?

A: The current membership fee is 1,000 USDT, which includes a spiritual collectible and access to real-world privileges. Our members span across Asia, Europe, and the US.

Buddhaland is not limited to Buddhists—it’s for anyone who shares our vision. Buddha simply means “the awakened one,” and we welcome individuals of all spiritual and religious orientations. In fact, this project is not about religion; it’s about humanity and collective consciousness.

Q: Who are going to be teachers that are going to impart wisdom in this ecosystem to promote personal growth by combining mindfulness in the digital sphere?

A: In our ecosystem, wisdom is shared by tech and business leaders alongside authentic spiritual teachers, including Buddhist monks and nuns with deep training and practice. We carefully select teachers based on their spiritual cultivation, not fame. To nurture personal growth, we host monthly online meetings and organise exclusive visits to heritage sites and monastic experiences on our annual trips.

Q: Why did you choose February 14 (Valentine’s Day) as the launch date to mint your NFTs?

A: This year, February 14 falls on an auspicious day in the Chinese lunar calendar. Although Valentine’s Day originally honored a saint, it’s now widely celebrated as a day of romantic love. In Buddhism, true love is universal compassion for all sentient beings. By launching on this day, we would like to spread love to the world—one rooted in compassion and interconnectedness.