The murals in Gongzhu Temple are as good as those in Yongle Palace, and there are hanging sculptures everywhere.
Gongzhu Temple in Fanshi was built in the Northern Wei Dynasty. It is named after Princess Chengxin, the fourth daughter of Emperor Wencheng of the Northern Wei Dynasty, who became a nun here. It is said that the original site of the temple was in Shansi Village. The temple was located on a deep stream, and the road was dangerous and difficult to reach. It was destroyed by war as early as the Song and Jin Dynasties. In the Yuan Dynasty, the eminent monk Qiuyue Degong lived here and raised funds to rebuild the temple.
In the early Ming Dynasty, Gongzhu Temple was moved from Shansi Village to its current location and rebuilt. After repairs in successive dynasties, it has formed the current three-entry courtyard with a central axis symmetry. On the central axis from south to north are the Mountain Gate, Pilu Hall, Weituo Hall, and Mahavira Hall. On the east and west sides are the Kalan Hall, Mawang Hall, Caishen Hall, Erlang Hall, and other buildings. Among them, the Mahavira Hall and the Guo Hall are the only remaining Ming Dynasty buildings in the temple, and the rest were built in the Qing Dynasty.
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The Mahavira Hall was rebuilt in the 16th year of the Hongzhi period of the Ming Dynasty (1503). Inside the hall is a Buddha altar, on which are three horizontal Buddhas. In the middle is the present Buddha, Shakyamuni Buddha, with Ananda and Yingshi, two disciples, on both sides in front. The backlight Buddha seats are all complete and exquisite. On the left is the past Buddha, Dipamkara Buddha, and on the right is the future Buddha, Amitabha Buddha. The east, west, north, and south walls of the Mahavira Hall are painted with water and land paintings. The murals are painted with heavy colors, the brushwork is extremely delicate, and the brushwork is stable and rigorous. The hair is meticulous, and the colors are extremely rich. The characters are depicted in different postures, and the use of powder technology makes the colors still bright and solemn, making them a masterpiece of Ming Dynasty temple murals.
The west wall of the main hall is centered on Lushena Buddha and Maitreya Buddha, with a monk with folded hands kneeling in front of the Buddha painted below. The two walls are symmetrically painted with Bodhisattvas, Arhats, Heavenly Earth, Vajra, and Heaven and Earth Gods, forming a grand scene of gods worshiping Buddha and immortals attending the meeting. The north wall is the Ten Great Kings and the Six Sons of Maitreya, and the east and west ends of the south wall are historical figures and ghosts in hell led by Ananda and the Bodhisattva.
The murals in the Mahavira Hall involve 480 gods, humans, and ghosts, standing in front of the Buddha. Although there are many characters in the picture, it is not chaotic. The layout is orderly and ingenious. The images of each group of characters are separated by colorful auspicious clouds, so that the immortals can come and go freely. Looking at the murals, it is like being in a fairyland. Standing in it, seeing such a magnificent mural that stands tall and upright, one can only feel awe and marvel at the craftsmanship of gods and ghosts and the power of faith.
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The Buddha altar in the Pilu Hall, built in the first year of the Zhengde period of the Ming Dynasty (1506), enshrines Shakyamuni, Brahma, and Indra. Behind Shakyamuni is the Water Moon Guanyin, surrounded by the statues of Manjushri, Samantabhadra, and the Eighteen Arhats. The hanging sculptures surrounding the statues are also masterpieces of the Ming Dynasty. The sculptures depict pavilions and towers, clouds and mist, and tell the story of Shakyamuni's journey to becoming a Buddha.
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📍Location:
Gongzhu Temple, Fanshi, Xinzhou, Shanxi
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👉TIPS:
Gongzhu Temple is closed from 12:00 to 2:00 for lunch. Please arrange your visit time reasonably.