Top 10 Chinese Buddhist Temples

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Top 10 Chinese Buddhist Temples







Temples especially the Buddhist temples are the treasured part of Chinese art, and to a most degree it is the symbol of Chinese long history and splendid culture. Extensively speaking, temples are not only associated with Buddhism, because initially in Qin Dynasty, the official’s mansions used to be called Temple, and in Tang and Song Dynasties, some government sectors were also called Temples like Dalisi(Dali Temple) which were served as The Court of Judicature and Revision. Besides the architecture of Buddhism is not only exclusively called Temple, and it was also named differently in different areas and dynasties. But later, as time went, Temple was exclusively used for Chinese Buddhist architecture. Actually, Temple was the respectful appellation used by commoners when Buddhism entered China. Also there was another form of temple called Nunnery which is only used for nun.

Four Taboos for Temple Visit:

1. Inappropriate Appellation. The monks of the temples should be called Da Shi(大师)or Fa Shi(法师). The governor of the temples should be called Zhang Lao(长老), Fang Zhang(方丈) or Chan Shi(禅师). The Lamas in Lamasery should be Lama, which means the superior or high-level master.


2. Improper Etiquette. Having a meet with monks, visitor had better bow a little and lower the head slightly. Never handshaking or hugging with monks, let alone touch the head of monks.


3. Unwelcome Words. Talking with monks, please don’t mention the words connected with killing, hurting and wedding, and try to avoid mouth the words of meat, because these words are the forbidden objects in sutra.


4. Offensive Behaviors. When visiting the temples, don’t speak aloud, discuss free, satirize unreasonably and walk incautiously. Visitors can not touch the objects in temples. Visitors never touch the Buddha statues and remember that in temple take photos are disallowed. If some Buddhist ceremonies are met, visitors had better keep silent and go quietly. In the meantime, please take notice of the children to avoid the unhappy things caused by children’s innocence.

 

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Shaolin Temple

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If you are extremely crazy about Chinese Kungfu, Shaolin Kungfu will be always your top selection for exercising. Shaolin temple is famous for its central level of Buddhism and more famous for its Kungfu and its life and natural philosophy released in daily body and mental exercise. Monks in Shaolin Temple master Kungfu for bodybuilding, temple protection and even state defensive. Now it is for self-protection, leisure and amusement, especially playing an important role in filmmaking. Currently Shaolin Kungfu is a shining star drawing many Kungfu lovers or Chinese culture enthusiast all around the world.

Shaolin Temple is crowned as the center of Zen ideology of Buddhism or Taoism and the first most-famous temple on earth. During the era of Southern and Northern Dynasty (420-581), a monk from India visited China. He crazily loved Zen and was highly respected by Emperor Xiaowendi, who was one of most famous Emperors for its cultural enthusiasm of China and took a reform in many aspects to adapt to the need of agricultural civilization and cultural exchange. In 496, he ordered to build a temple for this Indian monk on Shaoshi Mountain and served him the living resources. Due to its address, so it is called Shaolin Temple later from generation to generation. It is said in Buddhism history that Bodhidharma(Damo Master)of India taught the sutra in China and later he went toward north side of Yangtze River and meditated in Shaolin Temple for 9 years, finally he passed his thought to his student Huike, since then the thought of Shaolin Temple widely spreaded in China and surrounding areas. In Sui Dynasty (581-618), thanks to the policy of supporting Buddhism, it was resumed and rewarded many farmlands, and then it became a big northern temple.

During the early period of Tang Dynasty (618-907), for eliminating separation condition and decentralization, Li Shimin, the second famous Emperor of Tang Dynasty was greatly helped by Thirteen Kungfu Monks in Wars. Since then Shaolin Temple got the nationwide fame. In Legend, Shaolin Boxing was invented by Bodhidharma(Damo Master). 13 Shaolin Temple Monks Huichang, Tanzong, and Zhijian etc helped Lishimin during the war for trouble debarment. Later Emperor Taizong Li Shimin ordered Monk Tanzong to be the general, and permit the Kungfu monk of Shaolin Temple to eat the meat, drink the wine and kill the evil.

In Ming Dynasty (1368-1544), there were eight sons of Emperors changed to be monks in Shaolin Temple. At this period, Shaolin Temple was rebuilt for many times under the thumb of government. In Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), Shaolin Temple is deeply concerned by government. Emperor Kangxi, Emperor Yongzheng and Emperor Qianlong gifted Shaolin too much in policymaking and finance. By the way, the tablet of the front-door gate was written and gifted by Emperor Kangxi of Qing Dynasty. At present, it is still the big temple with many buildings.

Nearby the temple, there was a Pagoda Forest. The pagoda forest in Shaolin Temple was a concentration of tomb pagodas for eminent monks, abbots and ranking monks at the temple. A rough count shows more than two hundred fifty tomb pagodas of various sizes, making it the biggest pagoda forest in China. The forest stands at the foot of Shaoshi Mountain about half a kilometer west of Shaolin Temple and is composed of pagodas dating from 791 to 1803. Most are stone and brick structures of one to seven storeys, under fifteen meters high--much smaller than pagodas for Buddhist relics--but they all carry the exact year of their construction and many carvings and inscriptions. They are in a variety of styles, but are mainly multi-eaved and pavilion-style. Their shapes are varied, including polygonal, cylindrical, vase, conical and monolithic, making the pagoda forest an exhibition of ancient pagodas, carvings and calligraphy of various dynasties.

Here also lie the remains and traces of the activities of some eminent foreign monks. For example, in the eastern part of the forest a tomb pagoda built in 1339 in the Yuan Dynasty bears an epitaph written by a Japanese monk at Shaolin Temple, which is of elegant language and excellent handwriting. In the western part of the forest is a tomb pagoda built in 1564 in the Ming Dynasty for an Indian monk. Besides the pagoda forest there are many invaluable tomb pagodas scattered around Shaolin Temple. They include Faro Pagoda and Tongguang Pagoda, built in 689 and 771 in the Tang Dynasty, Tongguang Pagoda, constructed in 926 in the Five Dynasties, and Yuangong Pagoda, erected in 1324 in the Yuan Dynasty, which are gems among ancient pagodas.

Shaolin Kungfu is originated from monks’ daily life. It is said that Huiguang, the student of Batuo, was able to kick shuttlecock in reverse 500 times on the edge of the well at the age of 12. It is very dangerous for commoners to kick shuttlecock, the player generally fall into the well if his Kungfu is not good. In fact many detailed performances of Kungfu are from monks’ daily work or behavior such as shouldering the buckets full of water, sweeping the ground, collecting the firewood and cooking. They were inspired by those jobs. So the most complicated Kungfu is the commonest one in life. So in many performances, Kungfu Shows and films, the characteristics of Kungfu is hardness. Exercisers are strong and powerful to turn against the invasion of the swords and knives. The performers can smash the stones and break the steel into two pieces with their fist, head and body. That is true!

The secret-book of Shaolin Temple is called vein-change sutra, or Yijingjin. It is said to be a book recorded the kungfu exercising procedure via dredging body veins and pulse for body building. Bodhidharma(Damo Master) used to exercise such a kungfu for avoiding the tiredness when he was in meditation. And it is said that after Bodhidharma(Damo Master) left Shaolin Temple. Monks found there was a iron box, which could not be opened though it was unlocked. The smart monks warmed it, and the box opened. The reason was that the box was waxed for water-proof. There were two books, one was Yijingjin, the other was Xisuijin, or Marrow-washing sutra. Both were written in ancient Indian Language. At that time, only Huike recognized such a language in Shaolin Temple. He left Yijingjin in Shaolin Temple and carried Xisuijin to visit the world. Afterwards, a monk understood Indian language superficially. He exercised the Kungfu following the book and caused many kungfu branches due to the different understandings and comprehensions. There was a monk went to Emei Mountain for help from an Indian monk. They translated the book into Chinese, and then Huike came back, they found these two book were integrative. One was for mind-building and the other for exact motion exercise. Since then, the Kungfu exercisers often exercise kungfu meanwhile sitting in meditation for mental building.

This is Shaolin temple and Shaolin Kungfu. They both make people strong and powerful in body and mentality. It is a wonder as well as mystery. The level of Kungfu is identical to the exercisers’ mental, moral and philosophical cognition.

 

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Lingyin Temple

The Lingyin Temple

(literally "Temple of Soul's Retreat") stands between the Peaks of Feilai

and Beigao at the northwest of the West Lake Scenic Area, Hangzhou. Lingyin is one of the famous Buddhist temples in the Yangtze River Delta Region and it is praised for its surrounding tranquil environment.
The history of Lingyin Temple can be traced back to about 1600 years ago. At that time, an Indian monk Huili came to Hangzhou and was moved by the beautiful hill scenery and good natural environment, he thought that this was the place for living of heavenly spirits, so he built a temple here and called "Soul's Retreat". One day when the Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty came to the Lingyin Temple. He looked at the surroundings of Lingyin, it was cloudy and misty, very peaceful, so he inscribed "Yun Lin Chan Si" (The Zen Temple in the Forest of Clouds). Kangxi's words were engraved on a giant plaque at the gate of Tianwang Hall of the Lingyin Temple. During its most flourishing time, the temple had 9 buildings, 18 towers, and 72 halls with 1,300 rooms and more than 3,000 monks. Nowadays the Lingyin Temple is still a popular place for Buddhist followers and travelers at home and abroad.
Most part of the present
Lingyin Temple

is renovated based on the rebuilding during the late Qing Dynasty, the layout of the temple is roughly akin to the style of architecture in the Yangtze River Delta.
In the center of Tianwang Dian (The Hall of Heavenly King), a big statue of Maitreya, the fat Buddha with a friendly smile, is very eye-catching. A majestic statue of Sakyamuni, the founder of Buddhism, is seated in the main hall of the temple, Da Xiong Bao Dian (The Hall of Great Hero). The 19-m tall Sakyamuni is placed on a giant lotus flower with many magnificent sculptures of 150 Buddha behind. On both sides of the platform, located at the front of The Hall of Great Hero stand two beautiful pagodas which built about 1,100 years ago. Sutras and other valuable Buddhist heritage are collected here too. The Hall of Medicine Master was rebuilt a few years ago. The Arhat Hall collects 500 Arhat stone sculptures and many Buddhist relics.

The Feilai Feng (The Peak Flown from Afar) lies near the Lingyin Temple

and is one of the best attractions in Hangzhou. The peak is an important place for finding the ancient cave art in southern China. Inside these caves, 330 Buddha statues made between the Five Dynasties Period and the Yuan Dynasty, can be found.

 

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Hanshan Temple

It is quite strange to hear that a Buddhist temple called Cold Mountain. During the reign of Zhenguan Emperor (627 - 648) of China's Tang Dynasty, two young men, Hanshan (literally cold mountain) and Shide, had been very good friends since they were small. One day when Hanshan was grown up, his parents arranged him to marry a girl. However, the girl had fallen in love with Shide.

Accidentally, Hanshan knew the reality about this matter. He was in deep and painful thought for a few days. Eventually, he wrote a letter to Shide, stating that he wanted him to marry the girl as soon as possible. Hanshan then went to Suzhou to cultivate himself in Buddhism.

Shide hadn't seen Hanshan for a fortnight. He felt upset of that, so went to his home. There he saw a letter that Hanshan had left for him. Hanshan wrote "You should marry the girl now and have a happy life forever together". Shide felt very sad at that moment and he knew that he shouldn't take his friend's woman. So he left the girl too, and he set out to Suzhou to visit Hanshan. Shide was on the road during summer, he found a field of lotus flowers in a pond. He was very glad to see this scenery so he picked a flower in his hand and brought it with him all the way in order to have a good luck.

Finally, Shide has arrived at Suzhou to see his long time friend Hanshan. The flower in his hand was still brilliantly blossoming with charming fragrance. They are monks in the Hanshan Temple during the rest of their life. The present name of the temple has been used since then.

The Hanshan Temple was built between 502 and 519 AD, located at 5km outside the Changmen City Gate of Suzhou, China. Between the late Yuan and late Qing Dynasties, the temple was heavily looted and seriously damaged five times, but it was then repaired and renovated. This was due to its strong influence in people's hearts and the peaceful spirits of Hanshan and Shide have been deep in Chinese minds.

It is said that Monk Shide went to Japan to teach Buddhism and founded the Shide Temple there. So that the Chinese culture enthusiasts in Japan are like to tour the Hanshan Temple in Suzhou nowadays.

The most notable scene in the temple is the majestic pagoda called Pumingbaota, during your tour, you can climb up, though not to the top of it (because it is not allow to be reached !), and command the good view of the Suzhou city.

It is interesting to see the giant old bell in the Hanshan Temple. The monks here will strike the bell 108 times in the Lunar New Year. The action represents the 12 months, 24 solar terms and 72 climatic phenomena (numbered 108 in total) in traditional Chinese meteorology. It is said that man has 108 times of fretting over something annually, so the listening to the 108-strike can expel all the worries in your mind.

 

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Hanging Temple (Xuankong Temple)

Hanging Temple also called Xuankong Temple is the only domestic temple featured by Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism. It was built on cliffs. Originally it was built in later period of North Wei Dynasty. So far, it has more than 1400 years of history. It is also named as Hangjing Temple just like the temple in the sky because it is located on the steep cliff and faces the deep valleys. It has the unique structure and decorations. In total, there are 40 halls and pavilions in Hanging Temple(Xuankong Temple), which are connected with the corridors. In temple, there are more than 80 iron Buddha statues, copper Buddha statues, stone Buddha statues and clay Buddha statues. On the stone as the base of the temple, there are Chinese characters”壮观” ,which means grandness, inscribed by Li Po, who was Chinese greatest poet in Tang Dynasty.

Hanging Temple (Xuankong Temple) located in Hunyuan County of Shanxi province has 65 kilometers away from Datong. It is the important cultural relic under national-level protection. In different dynasties, Hanging Temple (Xuankong Temple) was restored or rebuilt. It was built in accordance with the Taoist theory that Taoists never live in a noisy environment, and never hear the noise of chicken and dogs. The altitude of the Hanging Temple(Xuankong Temple) is 50 meters. Hanging Temple (Xuankong Temple) exhibits Chinese traditional architectural styles and features, and generally can be summarized into Strangeness, Hanging and Skillfulness.

Hanging Temple(Xuankong Temple) is comprised of the Sanjiao Hall Wujiao Hall, Chunyang Palace,Sanguan Hall, Leiyin Hall, Shijia Hall, Qianshouguanyin Hall, Jialan Hall, Bell Tower, Drum Tower, Songziguanyin Hall, Dizangwangpusa Hall, Lord Guan Temple, Taiyi Hall, Sanfo Hall and other rooms for different uses.

 

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Luoyang White Horse Temple

The White Horse Temple (Baima Temple) is located 10km to the north of Luoyang in Henan Province. It is said, in the year of King Yongping of Eastern Han Dynasty (25 - 220 AD), the king sent monks Cai Yin and Cai Jing to India to ask for scriptures of Buddhism. Three years later, they got the scriptures and returned to China.


During the return trip, they met monks She Moteng and Zhu Falan near the north of Afghanistan. The two monks took a white horse to help them transporting the scriptures back to Luoyang. The year after they returned, a temple was built to keep those scriptures, that is the White Horse Temple. The White Horse Temple was the first temple built by the government after Buddhism of India reached China, so people also called it "Grandfather of the Temples". This temple was quite giant in Tang Dynasty (618 - 907 AD). Today, after years of warfare, less than ten percent of the construction is remained. It includes the Tian Wang Hall, Dafo Hall, Da Xiong Hall, Jie Yin Hall, Pilu Garret, and Qing Liang Stand.

There are three Buddha Statues in the Da Xiong Hall : Sakyamuni, Yaoshi, and A Maitreya. The most valuable items in the hall are the sculptures of the Eighteen Disciples of the Buddha, made during the Yuan Dynasty (1277 - 1367 AD). On the wall, there are more than 5,000 shrines of wooden Buddha statues. There is also a 1250kg weight giant bell in the temple. Every morning and evening when the Buddhists are having their lessons, you can hear the loud and clear ring of the bell. Since ancient times, the bell ring of the White Horse Temple is one of the famous events in Luoyang.


The Qing Liang Stand in the temple is also famous. People believed monks She Moteng and Zhu Falan from India once translated scriptures here. They stay at the temple and regarded as their home until they die, people buried their bodies beside the temple and that is today's Two Monks' Tomb. Many Tang scripture monuments and Yuan inscriptions are important documents for scholars to study the history and evolution of Buddhism. There is a 24m-high pagoda in the temple named Qi Yun. It has four angles and thirteen floors, originally built in the Tang Dynasty (923 - 936 AD), and destroyed in the Song Dynasty but rebuilt in 1175 AD.


There are a pair of white horses and a pair of lions at the gate of the temple. They symbolize "if you are going to study the deep knowledge of Buddhism, you should have a great deal of perseverance and willpower, and you shouldn't be afraid of difficulties". They have been standing at the gate and accompanying the temple for more than a thousand years. In 1961, it became one of the important preservations of cultural relics of the State.

When you are traveling around Luoyang, you should not ignore such and important Buddhism scenic spot with a thousand years' history.

 

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Famen Temple

Famen Temple

is located in Famen Town 120km northwest of Xi'an

. Although this Temple is a far distance from the city, it is a fascinating place with an intriguing history and it is worth making the effort to get here.

Legend has it that in 147 AD King Asoka of India traveled throughout Asia, distributing Buddhist relics as atonement for his sins and war like attitude. In China, he built this Temple and left the fingers of Buddha to be enshrined here. Tang Dynasty Emperors revered this sacred relic and regularly walked through the streets with the fingers followed by a huge worshipping procession. The Tang Emperors offered wonderful gifts to the fingers in an attempt to better their predecessors' offerings.
This legend was actually dismissed until 1981 when heavy rains revealed the crypt, shrine and underground palace completely by accident. The crypt contains the Buddha's fingers and gifts from the Emperors. The site is still seen as an important place of pilgrimage for Buddhists today.

The museum here is excellent and containing various objects from the Tang Dynasty including sacrificial offerings and royal gifts.

 

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Beijing Tanzhe Temple

The town is famous for its long-standing Tanzhe Temple

. Tanzhe Temple is located in the southeast of Mentougou district of Beijing, at the foot of Baozhu Mountain. It is so named because a deep pool called Longtan is behind the temple and a tree named Zhi is in front of the temple.


Tanzhe Temple

is the oldest temple and its establishment is 800 years earlier than that of Beijing City. Tanzhe Temple was built in 265 or so. Initially, it was called Jiafu Temple, and so far it has a history of more than 1700 years. Behind the Temple are nine peaks. And there is also a peak in front of the temple, which looks like a huge screen. It is just situated in such a golden location that was adored by the ancient Chinese.

Emperor Kangxi of Qing Dynasty once praised it that this area could rival Wutai Mountain in beauty.

 

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Five Pagoda Temple of Beijing

Five Pagoda Temple

is located in Haidian District of Beijing. It was established in the reign of Emperor Zhu Di of Ming Dynasty. There are five small stone pagodas built in 1473. According to the historical record, during the early period of reign of Emperor Zhu Di, an Indian monk arrived in Beijing from western area of Asia. He presented Emperor Zhu Di five golden figures of Buddha and the pictures of Jing-Kong Throne. The emperor had a happy chat with him on Buddhist scriptures and then appointed him the national religionary leader. Afterwards, the Emperor ordered to build up the Jing-Kong Throne Pagoda and refitted the temple in accordance with the pictures that this respectable and dignitarial monk offered. The established temple became the popular destination for people to climb mountains on Double-Ninth Festival

and go for a walk in the country on Tomb-Sweeping Day.

During the Qing Dynasty, the emperor restored the pagoda for celebrating his mother's birthday. Jing-Kong Throne Pagoda of Five-Pagoda Temple was built in the form of Indian style pagodas. It is the earliest one that has been established among ten similar pagodas. It owns most beautiful modality. It is qualified to be the representative of building styles and the artistic form of stone carving in Ming Dynasty. The pagoda is made of the bricks and bluestones. Jing-Kong Throne Pagoda is the representative of Buddhist arts. the pagoda is densely rich in the Buddha footmark, figures of Buddha, five-pagoda throne, bodhi trees, heavenly king, arhat, Indian language and scripture. Majority of this content is closely linked with Buddhism and will be greatly helpful to the Buddhist research. This pagoda is superficially built conforming to Indian style, but it is cmbined with Chinese traditional architecture conception and stone carving theory. It is the real evidence to show the
Sino-foreign cultural

exchange. It was listed as the first group of cultural relics protected by government.

 

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Jade Buddha Temple

The present Jade Buddha Temple(Yu Fo Si, 玉佛寺) in Shanghai was built in 1918 which is located at No.170, Anyuan Road (安远路). The temple follows the architectural style of the Song Dynasty with a precise layout and
harmonious structure. Inside the temple are the Heavenly-king Hall (Tian Wang Dian, 天王殿), Great Hall
(Da Xiong Bao Dian, 大雄宝殿), and Jade-Buddha Hall (Yu Fo Lou, 玉佛楼).

In 1882, Master Huigen（慧根） of Putuo Mountain（普陀山） passed the mountains of Wutai（五台山）and
Emei（峨眉山） then entered Tibet and India for commemorating the Buddha. Huigen got the jade by
excavating mountains with the help of local Chinese working overseas. Carving the jade into 5 Buddha
statues he then carried them back to Putuo Mountain; both the sitting Buddha and lying Buddha were left
in Shanghai. Subsequently, the Jade-Buddha Temple was built but destroyed by wars
in the year 1918. Fortunately the jade Buddha statues were saved and a new temple was built on the
present site. The two precious jade Buddhist statues became not only rare cultural relics but also
porcelain artworks.

During the first and the fifteenth day of each month in the Chinese lunar calendar or during some
traditional festivals related with Buddhism, believers are used to gather at the temple to pray for
happiness and Buddha's blessing. It is really impressive and distinct that the temple in urban city is
so popular, crowded, and holy.

Official Website:
http://www.yufotemple.com/

 

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Cockcrow Monastery

It is one of the oldest Buddhist Monasteries in Nanjing city. Cockcrow Monastery on the eastern foot of Jilong Mountain (Chicken Cage Mountain), the famous Jihua Mountain (九华山, one of the four Buddhist mountains in China) and Xuanwu Lake (玄武湖) is to the east and to the north of respectively. As early as 300 AD, religious establishments had been set up. About 200 years later, Tongtai Buddhist Monastery was built. It was the center of Buddhism of southern China, and visiting Indian monks had lived here. Since then Jilong Mountain has formerly been a holy land of Chinese Buddhism.


But a powerful lighting stroke on one day in 538 AD and a great fire was then blazed. It was only two small houses of the monastery were left. Ignored for hundreds of years till 922, a new Buddhist monastery was built on the former site, called the Monastery of a Thousand Buddha, later Yuanji Monastery.


The actual Cockcrow Monastery was built in

1387 under the royal decree of first Ming Dynasty emperor Zhu Yuanzhang. He ordered architects to demolish most of the old constructions on the site and rebuild the monastery. The emperor inscribed with a plaque "Cockcrow Monastery" for it. There were many times of expansion and renovation for the great religious architecture.


In 1958, the monastery was changed for religious cultivation of Buddhist nuns. It had been badly damaged during the chaotic social situation in 1966 – 1976. Thank to the Reform and Opening-up Policy, the government wanted to protect ancient Buddhist heritage, so the Cockcrow Monastery had been entirely reconstructed. Temple gates, Kwanyin Hall, Hall of the Great Heroes and many majestic attractions may amaze you regardless you are a Buddhist or not. In 1980s religious activities have been resumed. In recent years, Cockcrow Monastery has made many religious exchanges with Hong Kong and Taiwan, where Buddhist delegations frequently visited

local monks.


Now Huomeng House and Jingyang House in this monastery are being a teahouse and a vegetarian restaurant respectively. They provide excellent eating and drinking services. You can have a cup of Chinese tea or sample delicious vegetarian food while appreciating the magnificent architecture and beautiful scenery.

 

[Po Di-Al]

 

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[BLACK MONEY]

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[gudaya]

gud post machan ,rep added

 

[akilar25]

ela ela.

 

[4KIRIHAMI]

nayamayi
tnx for information

 

[tigooo]

++ rep, apetath salakapan hode
ela post1 machan

 

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onna selakuwa.