500 Luohan cave

500 Luohan cave

"Luohan cave" was written by Mr. Jin Yong. This natural cave is called "Panhu cave" because the cliff at the entrance of the cave looks like a crouching tiger. In order to inherit and carry forward the grotto art of the Great Buddha Temple in Xinchang, this natural grotto was processed and expanded. Under the guidance of national sculpture masters, 500 Arhats ranging from 1.1 m to 1.3 m were constructed according to the terrain, now known as "arhat cave".

origin

The word "Luohan" is a Sanskrit translation. It was originally called "arhan". Buddhist believers have different practices, so their achievements can be divided into high and low levels. Each achievement is called a fruit. In Mahayana Buddhism, the supreme is Buddha, then Bodhisattva, and then arhat; in Hinayana Buddhism, arhat is the highest fruit and achievement. When you reach this state, you can put out all troubles, fulfill all merits, and be supported by heaven and man, and also be a blessing for all living beings.

The worship of five hundred Arhats in China began in the Jin, song and Qing Dynasties. The theory of five hundred Arhats comes from India. There are many legends about the origin of five hundred Arhats. The fahua Sutra says that they are the five hundred disciples of Sakyamuni, the nirvana Sutra says that they are made by five hundred merchants, the five hundred wild geese, the five hundred robbers and so on.

Landscape introduction

When you enter the cave, you will be dazzled. There are 504 statues of five hundred Arhats, including shuidi Guanyin, shancai Tongzi, Longnv and Wudao mage. They are taken from the allusions of five hundred Arhats worshiping Guanyin in the Buddhist scriptures. The themes are peace, equality, democracy and freedom. Among the 500 Arhats with high artistic value in China are Biyun temple in Beijing, Baoguang temple in Chengdu, Qiongzhu temple in Yunnan, Guiyuan temple in Hanyang, etc., while Luohan cave of Dafo temple in Xinchang has its own characteristics, which has a great momentum for later comers. The combination of religious statues and grotto art, painted clay sculptures and floating Arhats in caves are also rare in China. Moreover, its spirit is exaggerated and humorous, which gives movement and change. No matter the gestures, eyes, clothes and props of the characters, they are all fine and lifelike. They are no longer the rigid image of sitting upright, nor the high-ranking and respectable Zhuang Yan Bao Xiang. Instead, they become amiable, lovely and respectable mortals, which makes you feel like you are facing real and living people. They sit, lie and run in their own ways. Some of them talk, some talk about paintings, some do business, some play music. Some of them are Jigong, some are Dharma Master, some are princes and nobles, some are scholars, farmers, businessmen, doctors, some are peddlers, some are fighting with Mirs, some are beggars and ministers, some are wearing straw sandals and Pei Jinyu, some are wearing all kinds of clothes and riding all kinds of seats Riding, black, brown, white. According to Zen, Buddhism is equal, no matter rich or poor, noble or humble, wise or stupid. It is possible to achieve the right result, and everyone can become a Buddha. This idea of equality is a kind of detachment for the feudal society with strict hierarchy. The influence and attraction of religion have received greater effect here. It is also a great reform in the history of Buddhism development and a great emancipation of mind and spirit.

Master of Enlightenment

It is worth mentioning that there is also a statue of the former abbot of the Great Buddha Temple. Master Wudao was born in 1920. At the age of 14, he converted to Buddhism. He read Buddhist scriptures and was proficient in Buddhism. He went to the jungle many times to teach Buddhist scriptures at home and abroad. He was deeply respected and respected by the Buddhist community. Tens of thousands of believers were converted because he admired the master's morality. Before he died, he was the abbot of the great Buddhist temple, and he was also the abbot or honorary abbot of 17 temples, executive director of the provincial Buddhist Association, President of the municipal Buddhist Association, member of the Standing Committee of the municipal CPPCC and vice chairman of the county CPPCC. He made great contributions to the cause of Buddhism. All his life, the master believed in cause and effect, strictly adhered to the commandments, carried forward the Dharma, and widely worked for the benefit of all living beings. Mahayana Buddhism believes that all living beings have Buddha nature, and those who have Buddha nature can become Buddhas. Therefore, they are qualified to enter the arhat hall with the results of the master's practice. Moreover, he took a seat in Rohan hall, which was also a kind of spur for those monks who had entered Buddhism but had six unclean roots and four big emptiness. The master's gesture means to welcome guests, reflecting the spirit of equality and mutual respect in the temple.

Address: Dafosi scenic area, Xinchang County, Shaoxing City

Longitude: 120.89093927365

Latitude: 29.50151786603

Ticket information: no ticket required. It is included in the ticket of Dafosi scenic spot.

Chinese PinYin : Wu Bai Luo Han Dong