Kaifu Temple

Introducing Kaifu Temple
Kaifu Temple is a renowned Buddhist temple located in Changsha. Kaifu Temple dates back over 1,000 years to the Five Dynasties period (907–960). Known for its exquisite architecture, serene atmosphere, and lush surroundings, it is a significant cultural and religious landmark. The temple complex houses a prominent Buddhist academy, a vital center for Buddhist studies and practice. Its impressive architecture, including halls, pavilions, and pagodas, attracts both pilgrims seeking spiritual solace and visitors drawn to its rich history and culture.

Kaifu Temple Fast Facts
• Chinese Name: Kāi Fú Sì 开福寺
• Date Established: 927
• Area: 48,000 square meters (11.8 acres)
• Best Time to Visit: All year around
• Recommended Visiting Hours: 1 - 2 x hours
• Things to Do: Buddhism, History and Culture
• Opening Hours: 6:30 – 17:30
• Entrance Fee: CNY10 (Includes three sticks of incense)
• Address: 152 Kaifusi Road, Kaifu District, Changsha, Hunan Province

What to Expect at the Kaifu Temple
Kaifu Temple offers a tranquil escape, a place to soak in the serene atmosphere and meditate. The gentle rhythm of monastic life unfolds: monks engaged in their daily practices, their chants resonating with a quiet power. Turtles and goldfish glide through the pond, adding to the sense of peace. Time seems to slow within the temple walls, inviting a few hours of peaceful contemplation.

The Mountain Gate
The mountain gate of Kaifu Temple is a granite archway with three openings and four pillars. Its three-tiered, hip-and-gable roof is covered with yellow tiles and features an ornamental finial at its apex, along with decorative ridge-end sculptures of mythical creatures. The archway’s panels are adorned with brightly painted, carved reliefs depicting figures, trees, and flowers. Couplets flanking the central opening, inscribed in 1806 by Han Feng, a Hunan official and calligrapher of the Qing Dynasty, express the temple’s auspicious location: “Purple clouds embrace the phoenix; azure waves conceal the dragon.”

The Hall of the Heavenly Kings
The Hall of the Heavenly Kings is the front hall within the temple. Inside, this grand hall houses a statue of Maitreya Buddha, also known as the Laughing Buddha. Behind Maitreya stands Skanda, the Dharma protector, wielding a vajra staff to subdue demonic forces. Flanking Maitreya on either side are the imposing statues of the Four Heavenly Kings, guardians of the cardinal directions and symbolizing distinct elements: Dhṛtarāṣṭra (East), Virūḍhaka (South), Virūpākṣa (West), and Vaiśravaṇa (North). Their vibrant colors and dynamic poses fill the hall with a sense of awe and power, preparing visitors for the spiritual journey deeper into the temple complex.

The Hall of the Mahavira
The Hall of the Mahavira, with its soaring 20-meter (65.6 ft) ceiling, evokes a sense of awe and reverence. At the heart of the hall, a white jade statue of Shakyamuni Buddha sits in serene composure upon a lotus throne. The jade, polished to a soft sheen, seems to glow with an inner light. His expression is one of profound tranquility, his eyes half-closed in meditation. To his left and right stand his devoted attendants, Ananda and Kasyapa, their hands clasped in respect. Towering behind the Shakyamuni Buddha is a magnificent golden statue of the Thousand-Armed and Thousand-Eyed Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva, each of the Bodhisattva’s countless hands outstretched in a gesture of compassion, each eye vigilant in its watch over suffering beings. Along the two sides of the hall, eighteen golden statues of the Arhats stand sentinel, their individual expressions capturing the wisdom and serenity achieved through years of dedicated practice.

The Hall of the Vairocana
The Vairocana Hall is distinguished by its central statue of Vairocana Buddha and its flanking walls, which hold 500 unique, small Arhat statues. Each arhat, standing approximately 0.4 meters (16 inches) tall, is a unique study in miniature sculptural artistry. Their poses, no two alike, capture a vast spectrum of human emotion and spiritual attainment. Some are depicted in deep meditation, their faces serene and contemplative, while others are captured mid-gesture, teaching or engaged in lively debate.

The Hall of Great Compassion
Within the serene expanse of the Hall of Great Compassion, a magnificent statue of Avalokiteśvara, the embodiment of compassion, commands attention. The Bodhisattva is rendered in the iconic Willow Branch pose, a posture of gentle grace and profound contemplation. Adorning the walls surrounding the statue are intricate depictions of Sudhana’s transformative journey. These visual narratives illustrate the fifty-three pilgrimages undertaken by the young pilgrim Sudhana, each encounter representing a step on his arduous path towards enlightenment.

How to Get to Kaifu Temple
• By Bus: Take bus 28, 357 to Kaifusi (Kaifu Temple) Station.