Post on 22-Jul-2015
-First Buddhist temple in China.
-Established in 68 AD under the patronage
of Emperor Ming in the Eastern Han capital
Luoyang.
-Located 10km to the north of Luoyang in Henan Province.
-The geographical landmarks of the temple are Manghan
mountain and Lucoche River.
Hall of Heavenly Kings-Originally built in the Yuan Dynasty.
-In the middle of the hall sits a laughing Buddha - Maitreya.
- On either side of Maitreya stand the four majestic 'Celestial
Kings'.
Hall of the Great Buddha-This hall boasts the most spectacular architecture in the whole
temple.
-Roof is covered with exquisite pantiles.
-A statue of the Buddhist patriarch Sakyamuni stands in the
middle of the hall for people to make offerings to.
Hall of Guidance-This hall is where the Amitabha Buddha is worshipped and is
the smallest in the temple.
-This Buddha is in charge of the Western Paradise.
Hall of Mahavira-The most magnificently decorated hall in the temple.
-Roof is carved with colorful lotus patterns and the walls are
hung with thousands of the wooden statues of Buddhist
figures.
-In the centre of the hall stands a two-storey Buddhist shrine and
giant winding dragons.
The Cool and Clear Terrace-This is a high brick terrace built in the yard at the rear of the
temple.
-The place where the two Indian monks translated the sutras
during the Eastern Han Dynasty.
-The first place at which Buddhist sutras were translated in
China and for this reason.