Wat Haw Pha Kaew

Wat Haw Pha Kaew

Jade Buddha Temple is located at No.170 Anyuan Road, Putuo District, Shanghai. It is named after the main worship of jade Buddha in the temple. It is also called Jade Buddha Temple because it belongs to the Linji law system of Zen and practices Zen. Jade Buddha Temple is one of the top ten tourist attractions in Shanghai. Although it is located in the bustling urban area, it is quiet in the bustling city. It is said to be a pure land in the bustling city. Master Huigen is the founder and first abbot of Yufo temple.

In 1983, Yufo temple was listed as the national key Buddhist temple in Han nationality area by the State Council

In 1994, it was announced as a municipal building protection unit by Shanghai Municipal People's government

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Historical evolution

In 1882, master Huigen of Putuo Mountain went to Wutai, followed Emei, entered Tibet, went to India, worshipped Buddha, and then passed Myanmar. Under the support of local overseas Chinese, he opened the mountain to get jade, carved five jade Buddhas, and invited them back to Putuo Mountain. When I passed Shanghai, I left one sitting Buddha and one Reclining Buddha. That is to say, I built a temple in Jiangwan Town, which is called Jade Buddha Temple.

The earliest Jade Buddha Temple was built in 1900 on the side of Wusong River Station and was held by master Benzhao, a disciple of master Huigen. After the revolution of 1911, the temple was destroyed by fire and only the Jade Buddha survived. At one time, the villa on shengxuanhuai shedangen Road (today's Wei'an Road) was used as a temple to worship the Jade Buddha.

In 1918, the temple was destroyed by fire, so it was rebuilt on the site. The new temple was renamed "Jade Buddha Temple". Since 1918, a monk of Linji sect, a branch of Zen Buddhism, has built a new temple at this site. After ten years of "Gongying striving to build", the temple complex of imitating Song Dynasty, such as Buddha Hall, pavilions, Zhai kitchen, has been successively completed, which makes the Jade Buddha Temple "danga Gu Ling, Chonghong magnificent, a giant temple on the sea."

In 1942, master Yuanchen, the abbot of Yufo temple, founded Shanghai Buddhist College. Zhenhua master of Zhulin temple in Zhenjiang was invited to be the dean and Dean of the school, and 30 monks were recruited. Later, for various reasons.

After the founding of new China, the state has paid for maintenance for many times.

On January 8, 1963, Premier Zhou Enlai personally accompanied Sri Lankan Prime Minister Madame Bandaranaike to the Jade Buddha Temple to attend the commemorative meeting held to commemorate the 64th anniversary of the birth of former Sri Lankan Prime Minister Bandaranaike.

During the "Cultural Revolution", under the protection of the municipal Party committee, governments at all levels, relevant units, cadres and the masses, and monks in the temple cooperated with each other, so that the whole temple building was preserved intact, the Buddhist scriptures, Buddhist statues, magic weapons and objects were also intact, the two jade Buddhas were intact, and all Buddhist activities were stopped.

After October 1976, in order to implement the policy of freedom of religious belief, the Jade Buddha Temple was reopened as a place for Buddhist activities, and the "Jade Buddha Temple Management Committee" was set up. The exiled monks returned to the temple one after another. Funds have also been allocated to repair the dilapidated temple. Since the Third Plenary Session of the Eleventh Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, the Jade Buddha Temple has been under its own management. According to the temple system, Buddhist circles in Shanghai have promoted abbot, prison and other monks.

In 1979, master Zhenchan served as the abbot of the Jade Buddha Temple and restored the ten directions jungle system of Buddhism.

Since 1981, various Buddhist dharma associations have been resumed.

In 1983, Shanghai Buddhist Association restored Shanghai Buddhist College in Yufo temple.

In July 2006, Yufo temple and East China Normal University jointly launched the establishment of juegun Buddhist Culture Research Institute of East China Normal University, and published two research monographs: urban development mode of human Buddhism and Tibetan Buddhism and harmonious society.

Architectural pattern

Jade Buddha Temple is a Song Dynasty palace building with rigorous layout, covering an area of about 11.6 Mu and a construction area of 8856 square meters. The architecture of jade Buddha Temple inherits the style of Song Dynasty temple. On the central axis, there are three halls: Tianwang hall, Daxiong hall and jade Buddha building. On the East and west sides, there are Guanyin hall, Tongfo hall, Wofo hall, Huaien hall, Zen hall and Zhai hall. There are more than 200 halls, including cultural relics room, French logistics reference office and vegetarian restaurant.

The first entrance to the hall is the heavenly king hall. The main hall of Er Jin is the main hall of Da Xiong. On the east side is the pharmacist Buddha of the Oriental glass world; on the west side is Amitabha of the Western Paradise. The wall sculpture of "Guanyin on the island" is set at the rear of the hall. In the middle of the hall, holding a water purification bottle, walking on a fish, and looking at the world with a wise eye, is the "Guanyin Bodhisattva of great mercy and salvation". The third entrance hall is the Abbot's room. On the front wall is a picture of Dharma, the founder of Zen, and the Jade Buddha tower is on the top of the Abbot's room. In the middle of the hall is the sitting statue of jade Buddha invited back by master Huigen. On the west side of the temple, there is a white jade Buddha.

Main buildings

main hall

Daxiong hall is the main building in the temple, which is about 30 meters long and 25 meters wide (7 rooms wide and 5 rooms deep). Its appearance is song style two-story palace building, simple and solemn. In the center of the hall is Sakyamuni Buddha, and on both sides are Amitabha Buddha and pharmacist Buddha. The three great Buddhas sit on the lotus seat with a serene look. The Buddha statue is 4 meters high and covered with gold, which makes the whole hall look golden and solemn. On the caisson above the head of Sakyamuni Buddha, the nude Dharma picture of Sakyamuni's birth and the whirlpool pattern of Jiulong spitting water to bathe him are vividly depicted.

On both sides of the hall are not the eighteen Arhats, but the twenty statues of the gods who protect Buddhism. Behind the three Buddhas is a huge painted sculpture of Guanyin on the island. In the picture, Guanyin stands on the top of the throne, and many good fortune boys are carrying out "53 shens" (learning Buddhism from 53 people who have Buddhism and good knowledge), and are enlightened by Guanyin Bodhisattva. At the bottom of the wall sculpture are eighteen Arhats in different shapes, some of them are gentle and kind, some of them are strong and brave. Generally, the eighteen Arhats are arranged on the left and right sides of the main hall, while the Jade Buddha Temple arranges them under the statue of Guanyin on the island, which is unique.

Jade Buddha tower

The Jade Buddha tower is named after the Jade Buddha. This sitting statue of jade Buddha, 1.95 meters high, is carved from a whole piece of jade. The Buddha sits on his left leg with the palm of his left hand upward and makes a meditation seal, which means that Sakyamuni is meditating under the bodhi tree and finally realizes that the Buddha's right hand naturally droops and his fingers touch the ground, which is called "touchdown seal". The Buddha's face is plump, eyebrows like crescent moon, eyes half open, lips closed and peaceful. The statue is exquisitely carved. On the edge of the cassock and the arm of the right arm, there are more than 100 jadeite, agate and other gems. The whole statue of Buddha gives out a crystal clear luster, which makes the statue of Buddha present a peaceful, benevolent and loving manner.

Cultural relics

The Qianlong version of the Tripitaka

In the Jade Buddha Temple, there are many precious Buddhist classics and cultural relics. In the Jade Buddha building, there are 178 letters, 1662 volumes and 7168 volumes of the Qianlong version of the Tripitaka, as well as Qisha collection, Pinjia collection (i.e. the Tripitaka of the school journal of Pinjia jingshe), Dazheng Tripitaka, xuzang Jing and Tibetan Tripitaka, which were photocopied in the Republic of China. These vast volumes of Tibetan scriptures are extremely precious Buddhist classics.

Bronze Buddha statues of the Northern Wei Dynasty

The bronze Buddha statue of the Northern Wei Dynasty is a standing statue of Sakyamuni Buddha made in the 15th year of Taihe (491). The upper body of the Buddha is slightly forward, with high bun and spiral hair. The face is peaceful and kind. The right hand bears the seal of fearlessness, and the left hand bears the seal of wish. The clothing pattern is straight and sagging, and the lines are smooth. Behind the Buddha is the flame pattern back screen, on which there are three relief seated Buddha statues. There is an inscription on the back of the screen.

Stone Buddha of pharmacist in Northern Dynasty

Carved in 543, the first year of Wuding in the Eastern Wei Dynasty, the stone statue of pharmacist Buddha in the Northern Dynasty is 23.5cm high and 11.5cm wide. In the middle of the statue, the pharmacist Buddha sits in a knot, with a high bun, a plump face, ears and shoulders. The right hand is bent and raised to make the seal of Shi Wuwei, and the palm of the left hand is down to make the seal of wish. There is a square base at the bottom, a boat shaped back screen at the back, and decorative patterns on the top. There are small standing Buddha carved in stone on the left and right. The stone of the statue is yellowish and delicate as jade. The composition of the whole statue is simple and skillful, which is the best stone carving art of the Northern Dynasty.

Jujube Avalokitesvara in Ming Dynasty

The statue of Guanyin in jujube wood of Ming Dynasty is 150 cm high and is carved from the whole jujube wood. This statue of Avalokitesvara is slender and graceful, giving people an elegant and moving feeling. Guanyin has plump cheeks and beautiful eyes. The sculptor skillfully uses the natural state of jujube wood to make the body of the statue slightly arc along the original variation of jujube tree, and the head of Guanyin slightly to the left, giving people a dynamic feeling. The simple pattern and fine carving show the intelligence and wisdom of the artists in Ming Dynasty.

Wood carving in Qing Dynasty

Wood carving Lingjia mountain in Qing Dynasty: according to the Buddhist scriptures, there was a lingjiu mountain in ancient India, where Sakyamuni carried forward Buddhism for many years. The wood carvings are about 2 meters high. The mountains are layered and the rocks are jagged. Buddha, Bodhisattva, arhat, king of heaven and other Buddha statues are distributed everywhere. Some of them ride on beasts, some of them sit at banquets, and some of them read scriptures and talk about Taoism. The whole statue is painted with gold powder, which is dazzling, reflecting the outstanding achievements of wood carving technology in the Qing Dynasty.

cultural exchange

Since the restoration of the opening up of Yufo temple, a lot of work has been done in terms of external reception, which has become an important window for Shanghai's friendly exchanges with foreign countries. According to statistics, from 1981 to 1989, the Jade Buddha Temple, Longhua temple and Jing'an Temple in Shanghai received more than 20 million people, including more than 2.5 million foreign guests. Any visit to Shanghai

Chinese PinYin : Yu Fo Si