What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
Some links on this page are affiliate links: if you buy through them we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.
Be-living is a 2021 landscape-architecture communication project from Shanghai that asked how Buddhist fangsheng (放生), the compassionate release of captive animals, could be discussed through ecological evidence without dismissing its religious meaning. The student team did not present a universal wildlife-release manual. Instead, it designed calendars and a guidebook that connected Buddhist observances with information about habitats, water conditions and species, then proposed distributing those materials through religious and cultural networks.
That distinction matters. The project is best understood as a case study in environmental communication and religiously situated design. Its reported release timing, locations and species suggestions belong to the students’ 2021 project account; they are not current, independently verified instructions for releasing animals. Anyone considering a release today needs advice from the relevant wildlife, ecology and regulatory authorities in the place where the release would occur.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Recommended Free Tools
What Be-living is
Be-living was a student landscape-architecture project in Shanghai, China, recognized with an Honor Award in Communications in the 2021 ASLA Student Awards. Yuxiang Dong, Ruilin Zhu, Ai Liu, Shuaiqi Xia and Luqiyao Chen are named as the student creators, with Jie Shen as faculty advisor. Tongji University’s Department of Landscape Architecture separately announced the award on November 24, 2021.
The project addresses fangsheng, a Buddhist practice in which captive creatures are released as an act of compassion and a way to cultivate merit. The team’s central concern was that a release intended to help animals could cause suffering or ecological damage when the place, season, water conditions or species are unsuitable. Its narrative specifically raises the possibility of introducing non-native animals, including red-eared turtles, in the Shanghai context. Those are claims made in the project description; they should not be read as a current ecological assessment of any particular site.
Popular on Amazon
- Valued Carpenter Pencil Set: You will get 2 pcs solid carpenter pencils with 26 piece 2.8 mm refills, 1 replaceable sharpener, 1 plastic storage box.The complete carpenter pencils combination allows you to finish your work faster and more easily
- Deep Hole Marker Pencil: The deep-hole construction pencils adopts 45mm elongated tip design, which is more convenient to mark in the small hole or in other tight areas that other carpenter markers cannot reach
- Carpenter Pencils with Sharpener: The sharpener is screwed into the top of the work pencil, which won't get lost either. Built-in pencil sharpener that keep the lead with pointed and smooth to Improves line of sight in fine work
- Stronger Solid Lead: This work pencil is matched with a 2.8 mm thick lead , which is much thicker and stronger during the drawing process of construction work, it will not break or damage easily
- Marks on Various Surfaces: 3 colors solid construction pencil can marks on various surfaces,such as metal, plastic, wood, paper etc. Ideals for woodworkers, contractors, craftsmen, builders, merchants and masons
Rather than arguing that religious practice should simply be replaced by technical rules, Be-living tried to translate ecological concepts into a Buddhist vocabulary. The landscape architect’s role, in this framing, is an interpreter: someone who understands environmental systems and can communicate them through the beliefs, calendars and institutions of the people who will use the information.
Project facts at a glance
| Detail | Reported information |
|---|---|
| Project | Be-living: How to Interpret Ecological ‘Fangsheng’ to Buddhists |
| Place | Shanghai, China |
| Recognition | 2021 ASLA Student Awards, Honor Award in Communications |
| Students | Yuxiang Dong, Ruilin Zhu, Ai Liu, Shuaiqi Xia and Luqiyao Chen |
| Faculty advisor | Jie Shen |
| Communication pieces | One monthly calendar, one weekly calendar and one folded guidebook |
| Reported analytical inputs | Shanghai water-quality, water-temperature and species-abundance data analyzed with GIS |
| Planned distribution | Mainly offline through temples, Buddhist goods stores and exhibitions, subject to cooperation |
The ASLA award entry is the primary account of the design and its intentions. The Tongji University announcement confirms the university connection and the 2021 award news.
Why fangsheng became an ecological communication problem
Fangsheng has a clear ethical purpose for its practitioners: freeing living beings expresses compassion. Be-living’s design question was what happens when that moral intention meets a complex urban ecosystem. An animal may survive only in a narrow range of water temperatures, oxygen levels, salinity, flow conditions or food webs. A species that is common in the pet trade may not belong in the receiving habitat. Moving animals between waterways can also move pathogens or parasites. A release site may be physically accessible yet unable to support the number or type of animals being brought there.
The project’s Shanghai narrative identifies two broad pathways to harm: choosing an unsuitable time or place, and introducing invasive species. The red-eared turtle is used as an example in that narrative. Be-living did not establish a universal list of acceptable or unacceptable releases for every region, and its award page does not provide a current regulatory review. Its contribution is to show why a compassionate action needs ecological interpretation before it is carried out.
This framing avoids a false choice between faith and science. The project treats Buddhist meaning as the starting point for a conversation about consequences. Compassion, in its design logic, includes attention to the habitat and to other organisms that may be affected by a release. That is a communication strategy, not a claim that the student materials can replace local wildlife management.
How the team translated ecology into Buddhist discourse
The students believed conventional scientific explanations were not reaching their intended audience. Their response was not to simplify ecology into a generic poster, but to place environmental information inside familiar religious contexts. Buddhist festivals, temple networks and volunteer communities become channels through which ideas about habitat suitability and seasonal conditions can be encountered.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →This translation has several layers:
- Shared values: Ecological care is connected to compassion and responsibility rather than presented as an external restriction on religious practice.
- Familiar timing: Information is organized around Buddhist events and recurring calendar practices, giving readers a reason to consult it.
- Trusted intermediaries: The project proposes working with monks and Buddhist volunteers, who can explain why ecological safeguards matter within the community’s own discourse.
- Place-based interpretation: Maps and local environmental data make the consequences of a release legible in Shanghai rather than leaving the discussion at the level of abstract scientific rules.
For landscape architecture, the important move is the combination of spatial analysis and cultural interpretation. The designer is not merely selecting a site or producing an attractive graphic. The designer is building a bridge between a living system, a set of religious practices and the decisions people make in public space.
The three physical communication pieces
Monthly calendar
The monthly calendar reportedly combined a Buddhist-festival calendar with mapped “Fangsheng pool” locations and species suggestions. The students say they used Shanghai water-quality, water-temperature and species-abundance data in GIS to inform those decisions. In principle, this format allows a reader to see time and place together: a religious date is associated with environmental information about where an activity might occur.
Also popular on Amazon
- Ergonomically Designed: Work in tight areas with a compact design that gets into tough spots
- Both tools are designed to fit into difficult to reach spaces
- Complete a wide range of applications with a high-performance motor that delivers up to 300 UWO, and an impact driver delivering up to 1,400 in-lbs of torque
- Both the DEWALT impact driver and drill driver feature integrated LED work lights with a convenient 20-second delay, ensuring enhanced visibility in dimly lit or challenging work areas
- One-Handed Loading - Keep one hand free with a 1/4 in. hex chuck that accepts 1 in. bit tips
The award description does not provide the project’s complete maps, a current database, the names of every suggested species or the thresholds used to classify a location. Consequently, the calendar should be read as a design artifact demonstrating a method of communication, not as a live map for present-day releases.
Weekly calendar
The weekly calendar paired fish information with Buddhist events. Its shorter cycle could support repeated, small-scale learning: a person encounters information about a fish while also seeing the religious context in which an act of release might be considered. This is different from a one-time warning because it makes ecological knowledge part of an ongoing routine.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Nothing in the available award account establishes that the weekly calendar was maintained after the competition or updated as species distributions, water conditions or regulations changed. Any contemporary version would need a responsible local institution and a documented process for updates.
Folded guidebook
The folded guidebook combined ecological principles with Buddhist doctrine. A compact format can travel through temples, shops and exhibitions, where readers may pick it up outside a formal classroom. Its purpose was interpretive: to explain why ecological limits are relevant to a practice grounded in compassion.
The project does not establish that a specific Be-living guidebook is sold online or remains available. References to a guidebook describe what the students produced, not a product that readers can order.
How GIS and environmental data fit the design
According to the ASLA account, the monthly calendar was developed with Shanghai water-quality, water-temperature and species-abundance data in GIS. These inputs represent three different questions:
- Water quality: Whether measured conditions are compatible with the animals and the receiving ecosystem.
- Water temperature: Whether seasonal or local thermal conditions match the needs of the animals being considered.
- Species abundance: What organisms are already present and how a proposed release could interact with that community.
GIS can place those variables on a common map so that environmental conditions are considered alongside access points, mapped pools or other places where people might conduct fangsheng. It can also expose mismatches that are hard to see from a single observation—for example, a visually appealing waterbody that has unsuitable temperature or a location where a released species would add pressure to an already stressed community.
However, the presence of GIS does not by itself validate a recommendation. A reliable current decision tool would need recent measurements, transparent methods, species identification, uncertainty estimates, disease controls, legal checks and a process for updating the data. The award entry does not provide that complete operational system.
Also popular on Amazon
- 【Great Compatibility】This Katerk 1/4 inch hex shank bit holder is specifically designed for 1/4 inch hex shank drill bits. It's compatible with most 1/4 fast hex handles, hex sockets, various electric screwdrivers, and handheld screwdrivers. The bit holder makes it a valuable addition for any handyman.
- 【Secure and Safe】Built with a secure backup nut design, each drill bit holder securely locks onto your bits, ensuring they stay firmly in place. Additionally, our bit holder incorporates a high-quality steel ball rolling design that holds up to several kilograms of weight, ensuring your various drill bits don't fall off.
- 【Easy One-Handed Operation】The bit holder for impact driver allows you to change bits single-handedly, simplifying your workflow. Its multi-color design further allows for quick identification of the drill bit you need.
- 【Compact and Convenient】Thanks to its compact size, this 1/4 inch bit holder is easy to carry around. The bit holder allows for easy attachment to various tools, making this a convenient addition to your construction accessories. The Katerk bit holder is cast from high-quality alloy material, promising a long product lifespan. Despite its rugged strength, the bit holder remains lightweight, making it portable.
- 【Cool Christmas Gift For Men Stocking Stuffers】 This screwdriver bit holder, driver bit holder, impact bit holder, can be given as a gift to your loved one, especially for anyone involved in construction or electrical work. It's a must-have for stocking stuffers for men and women, tools gifts for dad, tech gadgets for men, gifts for dad, gifts for him, gifts for husband, gifts for boyfriend, cool gadgets for men, and cool gifts for dad.
Reading the project’s “where, when and how” questions
Be-living organizes the practical problem around three questions: where, when and how to carry out fangsheng in an environmentally friendly and sustainable way. These questions are useful for understanding the project, but its historic suggestions should not be converted into present instructions.
Where
The “where” question concerns the fit between a receiving habitat and the animal. A suitable-looking pool is not automatically suitable. A current assessment would need to identify the waterbody, confirm ownership and access rules, determine whether releases are permitted, and establish that the animal belongs in that ecosystem and can survive there without creating new risks.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsWhen
The “when” question concerns environmental conditions and animal welfare. Temperature, water quality, seasonal flows and the condition of the animals at the time of release can all affect outcomes. A calendar can help communicate timing, but only if it is based on current local information and reviewed as conditions change.
How
The “how” question includes sourcing, transport, handling, disease prevention and post-release consequences. It also includes whether an alternative action—such as supporting a rescue organization or improving captive-animal care—would better express compassion without releasing an animal into an unsuitable environment. The Be-living materials are presented as a way to discuss these issues, not as a complete veterinary or wildlife protocol.
What the project demonstrates about landscape architecture
Be-living expands the usual image of landscape architecture. Its work is not limited to a built site, planting plan or public-space intervention. The calendars and guidebook are designed landscapes of information: they organize environmental data, cultural time and social networks so that a person can make a more informed decision.
Three professional roles are visible in the project:
- Environmental analyst: The team assembled local water and species information and used GIS to relate those conditions to possible release locations.
- Cultural translator: It recast ecological concepts through Buddhist doctrine and festival practices rather than assuming that technical language would persuade everyone.
- Network designer: It proposed offline distribution through temples, Buddhist goods stores, exhibitions, monks and volunteers, recognizing that trust and access shape whether information is used.
This combination is especially relevant to construction and public-realm projects. A technically correct environmental measure can fail if it is communicated in a way that residents do not recognize, trust or have an opportunity to use. Conversely, a culturally resonant message can cause harm if it is not grounded in current ecological evidence. Be-living’s value lies in holding those requirements together.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What is established—and what is not
The award documentation establishes the project’s authorship, location, award category, communication formats and stated method. It also records the team’s concern about ecologically harmful releases and its intention to work through Buddhist networks.
Also popular on Amazon
- Long Nib and Deep Hole Marker: Our mechanical carpenter pencil with 45mm nib is designed for easy marking of deep holes or narrow areas. These construction pencils are the great choice for woodworking tools, construction tools, carpenter tools, contractor tools, wood carpentry tools and architect tools
- Extra Refills in 2 Colors for Versatile Marking: The construction mechanical pencil comes with 12 extra 2.8mm refills, including 6 red and 6 black refills. The black refill is suitable for light surfaces, while the red wax is perfect for dark surfaces. Our carpenter mechanical pencil makes sure that you'll have an ample supply for extended use
- Built-in Sharpener: Our construction pencil comes with a built-in sharpener to ensure the mechanical pencil tip is always sharp and ready for use. Never buy an extra pencil sharpener again. A great tool for any woodworker pencil, contractor pencils. The refill can easily be extended or retracted with a simple click of the pencils mechanical, allowing you to work more efficiently and accurately
- Portable Clip Design: Our deep hole construction pencil features a portable clip design, easy to carry and attach to your pocket or tool box, so that you can keep the carpenter pencils mechanical close at hand, making it a convenient tool to have on the go. Great gifts choice for carpenters
- Stronger Pencil Lead: The black refills are made of lead, sturdy and smooth. The red refills are made of wax, clear and light. These marking pencils are much thicker and stronger than normal pencils during the marking process of construction work, suitable for various surfaces, such as glasses, metal, boards, floors, walls, furniture, etc. The written marks can be easily wiped with a wet paper towel when needed
It does not establish measured ecological outcomes. There is no reported before-and-after study showing that the calendars changed release behavior, improved animal survival or reduced invasive-species introductions. The sources do not provide a current inventory of Fangsheng pools, a validated species list, release volumes, disease testing results or a legal assessment for every jurisdiction. Nor do they establish that the materials are still distributed or maintained.
That evidence boundary is important when citing the project. It is accurate to say that Be-living proposed a data-informed communication system. It is not accurate to say that the project proved a particular release schedule works, that its maps remain current or that it offers official wildlife guidance.
A responsible framework for present-day readers
If you are studying Be-living as a model for environmental communication, use its questions as a checklist for research rather than as an answer key. Before any contemporary release decision, consult the responsible local authorities and qualified wildlife or aquatic-health professionals. At minimum, a current review should address:
- Whether the animal is native to the receiving habitat and legally permitted there.
- Whether the site can support the species’ habitat, temperature, water-quality and food requirements.
- Whether the animal is healthy and free from communicable disease, and whether transport could spread pathogens.
- Whether the season and immediate weather or water conditions create a welfare risk.
- Whether the proposed action could establish an invasive population or disrupt existing species.
- Whether landowner permission, protected-area rules, permits or animal-welfare regulations apply.
- Whether a non-release alternative would achieve the compassionate aim with less ecological risk.
This framework follows the project’s ecological concerns while acknowledging that decisions must be made with current, local evidence. It also shows why a static brochure cannot substitute for an accountable process.
Distribution, availability and limits of the record
The students intended the materials for mainly offline distribution through temples, Buddhist goods stores and exhibitions, subject to cooperation. That distribution plan is part of the project’s communication strategy: it places information where people already encounter religious practice and related goods.
The available sources do not show that Be-living is currently available as a maintained publication, commercial guide or online service. They also do not document a continuing organization responsible for updating its data. Readers looking for a present-day guide should therefore seek current local sources rather than relying on a 2021 student award entry.
Why Be-living remains a useful case study
Be-living’s lasting lesson is not a particular map or calendar date. It is the proposition that ecological communication works better when it respects the audience’s moral and cultural world. The project starts with a practice that has religious meaning, identifies the ecological risks that can arise in its implementation, and designs formats that let trusted community networks discuss those risks.
For designers, planners and builders working on public landscapes, the method offers a transferable sequence: understand the practice, identify the environmental system, find the community’s trusted language and institutions, and make the information usable at the moment a decision is made. The sequence still requires current science, legal review and evaluation after implementation. What it provides is a way to connect those technical requirements with the people whose actions shape the landscape.
Seen on its own terms, Be-living is a 2021 Shanghai communication experiment in which calendars, maps and a folded guidebook became tools for interpreting ecological responsibility within Buddhist fangsheng. Its significance is strongest as a demonstration of culturally attentive environmental design—and weakest when treated as a ready-made release manual.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
