(This article was published in the Shenzhen Daily on February 27, 2012.)
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The pagoda (塔) at Longhua Temple (龙华寺) in Shanghai (上海) stands outside the front gate, and is its most famous feature. |
Longhua Temple dates, according to legend, to the Three Kingdoms Period (220–280 A.D.) Although many of the buildings are more recently rebuilt, the compound nevertheless maintains the layout of a typical temple of the Song Dynasty (960-1279), which is more likely to be the historical founding of the site. While the compound is large, it used to be larger still; much of its former area is now occupied by the Longhua Martyrs' Cemetery.
I encountered one of the highlights before I even entered the gates. The Longhua Pagoda is the only ancient pagoda remaining in the city; while the foundations may be older, and there have been extensive repairs, the core of the current structure dates to 977.
Inside the temple I was delighted to discover that there were no restrictions on photography of the statues--and what statues they are!
Three collections particularly caught my eye.
The first were in the 500 Arhats Hall, where foot-high figures of (you guessed it!) 500 disciples are seated around a central figure of the historic Buddha under a tree.
The second was the Thousand-Armed Guanyin, the Bodhisattva of Compassion shown ready to save in a thousand ways, with his/her numerous incarnations gathered around.
And finally, many life-like figures of deva/gods and patriarchs surrounded the Vairocana Buddha in the Main Hall.
Any one of these would be worth the trip out to the Longhua area; combined, and with the pagoda and some good vegetarian dining thrown in, I'd say this is undoubtedly the best of the Shanghai temples I've seen.
GPS Info:
- 31.174007, 121.45191
Map:
GALLERY
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Some of the 500 arhats surrounding the historic Buddha at Longhua Temple |
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Lifelike figures in Longhua's Main Hall |
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A stunning Thousand-armed Guanyin |
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Longhua Pagoda is Shanghai's only ancient pagoda |
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