Jing'an Temple
This article includes a list of references, related reading or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. (February 2008) |
Jing'an Temple | |
---|---|
Religion | |
Affiliation | Buddhism |
Location | |
Country | China |
Location in Shanghai | |
Geographic coordinates | 31°13′25″N 121°26′43″E / 31.223493°N 121.445314°ECoordinates: 31°13′25″N 121°26′43″E / 31.223493°N 121.445314°E |
Architecture | |
Completed | 247 AD |
Jing'an Temple (simplified Chinese: 静安寺; traditional Chinese: 靜安寺; pinyin: Jìng'ān Sì; Shanghainese: Zin'oe Zy; lit. 'Temple of Peace and Tranquility') is an esoteric Tangmi Buddhist temple on the West Nanjing Road in Shanghai. Jing'an District, where it is located, is named after the temple.
History[]
The temple was first built in 247 AD in the Wu Kingdom during the Three Kingdoms period of ancient China. Originally located beside the Suzhou Creek, it was relocated to its current site in 1216 during the Song Dynasty. The current temple was rebuilt in the Qing Dynasty but, during the Cultural Revolution, the temple was razed and turned into a plastic factory. In 1983, it was returned to its original purpose and rebuilt. Over the years, the temple was expanded, with the Jing'an Pagoda being completed in 2010. In 1953, Master Chisong (释持松), a monk who had been initiated into the Shingon sect and was trained as an acharya, was appointed abbot of the temple. He re-established the temple under the Tangmi Buddhist tradition and enshrined the Mandala of the Two Realms within the temple. In contemporary times, the temple still officially practices Tangmi Buddhism.
Features[]
Three Southern-style halls, each with its own courtyard, dating from the most recent reconstruction (1880):
- Hall of Heavenly Kings
- Hall of the Three Saints
- Hall of Virtuous Works
- The Mahavira Hall ("Precious Hall of the Great Hero"), the main hall
- To the east of the main hall is the Guanyin Hall. In the center of the hall is a statue of the goddess made out of camphor wood. Standing on a lotus-shaped base, it is 6.2 meters tall and weighs 5 metric tons
- Opposite the hall is the Jade Buddha Hall, where a 3.8-meter jade Buddha sits in the center. It is the largest sitting jade Buddha statue in the country
- Abbot's Chambers
- Ming Dynasty copper bell (Hongwu Bell), weighing 3.5 tons
- Stone Buddhas from the Southern and Northern Dynasties period (420-589 AD)
- Paintings by master painters, Chu Zhishan, Zhang Daqian and Wen Zhenming[1]
- Mandalas enshrined at a tantric altar on the upper floor
Transportation[]
The temple sits on top of the Jing'an Temple Station, a major hub of the Shanghai Metro network where Line 2 and Line 7 intersect.
You can take Bus No.113, 40, 830, 824, 20, 15, 37, 21 to arrive Jing'an Temple.
There are also Shuttle Express Service provided from airports to Jing'an Temple. Pudong Airport Shuttle Bus Line No. 2 run from City Terminal (beside Jing'an Temple)
Opening Time[]
The temple opens at 7:30AM and closes at 17:00PM daily in most times of the year .
References[]
- ^ "Tourist Attractions in Shanghai". Archived from the original on 2014-04-13. Retrieved Apr 16, 2014.
The night scene of Jing'an Temple
Inside the temple
Doors of the temple
The Well Room
Walkways
The grounds
The carvings on the stairs
This bell was the original temple bell
carvings
The right most beam of the temple is unfinished on the top.
Interior
The windows
Inside Jing'an Temple
Jing'an temple inside the modern urban area
Inside Jing'an Temple
External links[]
- Media related to Jing'an Temple at Wikimedia Commons
- Official Jing'an Temple website—(in Chinese)
- Chinadaily.com.cn: Article on Jing'an Temple—(in English)
- Travel China Guide on Jing An Temple-(in English)
- National Key Buddhist Temples in Han Chinese Area
- Buddhist temples in Shanghai
- Jing'an District
- Qing dynasty architecture
- Song dynasty architecture
- 3rd-century Buddhist temples
- 247 establishments
- 3rd-century establishments in China
- Landmarks in Shanghai