Shanhua Temple

» Datong, Shan Xi

Shanhua Temple Overview & Map Weather Transportation Information

The Shanhua Temple is located inside the southern gate of Datong City, Shanxi Province. The temple occupies an area of over 15,000 square meters. The temple looks very spiritual and solemn. Only a Five-Dragon Screen made from a colored glaze adds a trace of cheerful atmosphere.

History

It was built in the Kaiyuan reign of the Tang Dynasty (618 - 907) and first named the Kaiyuan Temple. In the 1st year of the Later Jin period, it was renamed Big Pu'en Temple. In the 2nd year (1122) of the Baoda reign of the late Liao Dynasty (1271 - 1368), it was mostly destroyed in the war. In the 6th year (1128) of the Tianhui reign of the Jin Dynasty (1115 - 1234), it was rebuilt. In the 10th year (1445) of the Zhengtong reign of Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644), it got the present name.

What to visit

The main structures are the Temple Gate, Three-Sage Hall and the Great Hall, which are arranged along the central axis and ascend one after another gradually. Additionally, to the east of the axis there is the Wenshu Pavilion (deserted) while to the west there is the Puxian (Samantabhadra) Pavilion. The two pavilions are symmetrical in arrangement and represent the style of Tang architectures. It is complanate within the temple full of pines and cypresses. It is the most intact and largest preserved temple of Liao and Jin dynasties in China.

Temple Gate

The Temple Gate is also called Heaven God Hall. It is 5-bay wide, and 2-bay deep with a single-eaved roof. In the front there is a platform with a pair of stone lions on it. In the left and right side-rooms there are the statues of the Four Heavenly Guardians, which look majestic and furious. The 12 columns of the temple gate are in a compact order. The beam of the temple gate is moonlike and beautiful. The temple gate is the biggest extant temple gate of the Jin Dynasty.

Three-Sage Hall

The Three-Sage Hall is also called Passage Hall. It was built in the Tianhui and Huangtong reigns of the Jin Dynasty (1115 - 1234). There are statues of Vairochana Buddha, Manjusri Bodhisattva and Samantabhadra Bodhisattva, hence the name. It is 5-bay wide, 4-bay deep and has a single-eaved roof. The arch under the eaves is majestic and typical of Jin arch building. The hall is spacious. In the 2 side-rooms there are 60 inclined arches like a flower in blossom. The Three-Sage statues were made in the Jin Dynasty. There are four preserved stone tablets. In the 16th year of the Dading reign of the Jin Dynasty, an article The Record of Rebuilding the Hall of Big Pu'en Temple in Xijing in the Jin Dynasty written by the Southern Song (1127 - 1279) envoy Zhu Bian was engraved one tablet. Zhu Bian lived in this temple for 14 years and saw the rebuilding with his own eyes. Therefore, the article is not only elegant but also believable. It is important material for research into the Shanhua Temple.

Great Hall

The hall

The Great Hall was built in the Liao Dynasty (916 - 1125) and rebuilt in the Tianhiui and Huangtong reigns of the Jin Dynasty. The hall base is 3 meters high; the platform in front of the hall is 31 meters long from east to west and 21 meters wide from south to north. In the Wanli reign of the Ming Dynasty, 3 memorial gateways, one bell pavilion and one drum pavilion were added. The hall is 7-bay wide, 5-bay deep and has a single-eaved roof with 5 ridges. The roof is slightly gradient and typical of Liao architecture. In the center of the hall there are 2 sunk panels, inside which are 2 layers of arches. On the altar in the middle of the hall there are 5 Buddha statues sitting on the lotus throne.

Buddha statues

The Buddha statues made of earth and gold-plated, are 4.05 meters high. The Buddhas look well dressed, decent and dignified. The 24 statues of heavenly gods on the east and west are over 3 meters high and have different expressions.

Frescoes

On the western and southern walls are carved frescoes of Buddhist stories. The frescoes are smoothly drawn that the figure are quite lifelike. Although they are works of the early Qing Dynasty (1644 - 1911), they also retain the style of the Yuan Dynasty (1271 - 1368).

Puxian Pavilion

The Puxian (Samantabhadra) Pavilion faces the west and has an exquisite layout. It was rebuilt in the second year (1154) of the Zhenyuan reign in the Jin Dynasty. The pavilion has a similar structure like the Wooden Pagoda in Yingxian County and is an important proof of the development history of wooden-structure architecture in China.

Attractions around » Datong, Shan Xi

Natural Scene

• Mt. Hengshan

Historical Site

• Yungang Grottoes
• Hanging Temple
• Wooden Pagoda
• Huayan Temple
• Nine Dragon Screen
• Shanhua Temple
• Niangzi Pass
• Yanmen Pass
• Pingxing Pass

Shanhua Temple Highlights

Temple & Monastery in Great China

• Shaolin Temple
• Temple of Heaven
• Jokhang Temple
• Confucius Temple
• A-Ma Temple
• Palkhor Monastery
• Sera Temple
• Drepung Temple
• Rongbuk Temple
• Songzanlin Temple
• Id Kah Mosque
• Lingyin Temple
• Labrang Temple
• Great Buddha at Lingshan
• Golden Temple
• Yuantong Temple
• Tashilhunpo Temple
• Sakya Temple
• Temple of Universal Peace
• Putuo Zongcheng Temple
• Eight Outer Temples
• Famen Temple
• Great Mosque
• Nanputuo Temple
• Jade Buddha Temple
• Town God Temple
• Confucius Temple
• Lama Temple
• White Cloud Temple
• Tar Temple
• Santa Sophia Church
• 108 Dagobas
• Memorial Temple of Lord Bao
• White Horse Temple
• Qiongzhu Temple
• Hanging Temple
• Hanshan Temple
• Gaomiao Temple at Zhongwei
• Giant Buddha Temple
• Xiangguo Temple
• Yufeng Lamastery
• Chongshansi Temple
• Dule Temple
• Anyuan Temple
• White Horse Pagoda
• Trandruk Temple
• Dai Temple
• Pagoda of Songyue Temple
• Ramoche Temple
• Guanlin Temple
• Huayan Temple
• Kaiyuan Temple
• Samye Temple
• Jinci Temple
• Confucius Temple
• Ganden Temple
• Dabeiyuan Temple
• Wuhou Memorial Temple
• Shanhua Temple
• Ruins of St. Paul's
• Temple of Universal Happiness
• Great Bell Temple
• Qingjing Mosque
• Hongfu Temple
• Dazhao Temple
• Five Pagoda Temple
• Baoguo Temple
• Wudangzhao Temple
• Shalu Temple
• Bailin Temple, Great Zen Buddhist Center
• Longhua Temple
• Jile Temple
• Chengtiansi Pagoda
• Nanguan Muslim Mosque
• Qingyanggong Temple
• Ba Xian An Temple
• Tianhou Palace
• Guiyuan Temple
• Linggu Temple
• Najiahu Mosque at Yongning
• Haibao Pagoda
• Xilitu Zhao
• Dongguan Mosque
• Jiegu Temple

Shanhua Temple FAQ & Travelers's Tips

  Weather

1. Are there any tips about the weather in Taiyuan?

  Food

1. What should I note when eating in Shanxi?

  Shopping

1. What speciality products does Shanxi have?

  Travel

1. Some tips on touring around temples on Mt. Wutaishan

• Are there any tips about the weather in Taiyuan?

  Shanxi province is located on the Loess Plateau and is windy and dusty. So you had better not dress in light color. Besides, the air is dry and you should take good care of your skin, and drink more water, or else your lips will be chapped.

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• What should I note when eating in Shanxi?

  The soil in Shanxi province is alkaline, so we strongly recommend you to drink a spoon of local mature vinegar before your three meals a day because the local vinegar could reduce the alkalescence and prevent intestinal disease.

  Proper diet is important. Do not eat too much. Eat more vegetables, fruits and drink more water in order to adapt yourself to the plateau-climate. You had better not smoke or drink.

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• What speciality products does Shanxi have?

  Pingyao beef, Pingyao lacquerwork, Shanxi mature vinegar, Shanxi red date, "Fen jiu" (a kind of famous Chinese hard liquor), mushrooms and tropaeolum of Mount Wutaishan and so on.

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• Some tips on touring around temples on Mt. Wutaishan

  The mountain area is scattered with many famous temples which are the highlights of Mt. Wutaishan tour. There are several aspects tourists should pay attention to, such as:

  • Monk in these temples should be styled "Shifu" or "Fashi" while the abbot styled "Zhanglao," "Fangzhang," or "Shanshi (Chan master)." All the forms of address show the respect for the monks. Monk in lamasery should be addressed as "lama," meaning great master. Do not call them "Heshang" or "Chujiaren" or even other insulting name.
  
  
  • When meeting monks in these temples, you should salute them by putting the palms together and lowering your head slightly or you can put upright one of your hand before chest and lower your head. Never shake their hands, embrace them, touch their heads or other unsuitable action.
  
  
  • When talking with the monks, you should not speak of killing, marriage and eating meat in order to avoid arousing their antipathy. Don't speak loudly, discuss casually, lampoon, touch the Buddhist figures or leave any mark on statues. You may stand and look silently or leave quietly if you come across the Buddhist ceremony. Take care of your kids lest naive children behave impolitely.
  
  
  • No smoking in the temples. Do not leave litter. Taking photographs is not permitted.
  
  
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