Full travelling
information of Shanghai attractions
Jade Buddha Temple
The
Jade Buddha Temple, the most famous Buddhist temple in Shanghai, is located
in the western part of the city. In 1882, a monk named Huigen left two
of five jade Buddha statues brought from Burma in Shanghai and built a
temple there to keep them. In 1918, the old temple was burned down and
a new one was built on the present site and named the Jade Buddha Temple.
Still inhabited by monks, the temple consists of three main halls and
two courtyards.
The first hall is Tianwang Dian Hall where statues of the four celestial
kings and Maitreya are enshrined. It was said that the Maitreya is, in
fact, the Budai Monk. In 916, before his death, he had told people that
he was the reincarnation of the future Buddha Maitreya. Later, peopl called
him Buddha Maitreya and began to worship him in temples.
The second hall is Daxiong Baodian. Three large gilded Buddha statues:
the Buddhas of the past (Bhaisajya-guru), present (Sakyamuni) and future
(Maitreya) are kept in the hall. The one in the center is Sakyamuni, east
of it is Bhaisajya-guru and west is Maitreya. Eighteen gilded Luohan statues
stand around them.
After visiting the Daxiong Baodian, people reach the Jade Buddha Tower.
A jade Buddha, which is 1.9m tall and 1.34m wide, stands on the second
floor. Inlaid with diamonds and agates, the jade Buddha is sitting leisurely
at the moment of his enlightenment. And in a hall on the western part
of the temple grounds lies a 96-cm-long recumbent jade Buddha. Both of
these two Buddha statues were carved out of a single piece of white jade.
Besides all this, many Buddhist sculptures and classics are housed in
the temple.
The
Jade Buddha Temple, the most famous Buddhist temple in Shanghai, is located
in the western part of the city. In 1882, a monk named Huigen left two
of five jade Buddha statues brought from Burma in Shanghai and built a
temple there to keep them. In 1918, the old temple was burned down and
a new one was built on the present site and named the Jade Buddha Temple.
After visiting the Daxiong Baodian, people reach the Jade Buddha Tower.
A jade Buddha, which is 1.9m tall and 1.34m wide, stands on the second
floor. Inlaid with diamonds and agates, the jade Buddha is sitting leisurely
at the moment of his enlightenment. And in a hall on the western part
of the temple grounds lies a 96-cm-long recumbent jade Buddha. Both of
these two Buddha statues were carved out of a single piece of white jade.
Besides all this, many Buddhist sculptures and classics are housed in
the temple.