Kaiyuan Temple

Introducing Kaiyuan Temple
Kaiyuan Temple is a significant historical site located in Quanzhou City. Kaiyuan Temple is the largest Buddhist temple in Fujian Province. Originally founded in 686 AD as the Lotus Temple, its origins are steeped in legend. It is said that a wealthy Quanzhou merchant named Huang Shougong dreamt of a lotus flower blossoming from a mulberry tree. Inspired by this dream, he donated his mulberry orchard to establish the temple. Later, in 738 AD, it was renamed Kaiyuan Temple and rose to become the most influential Buddhist temple during the Song (960-1279) and Yuan (1271-1368) dynasties.

Facing south, the main temple complex encompasses an impressive 78,000 square meters, with its existing structures constructed during the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1912) dynasties. The temple’s diverse collection of cultural relics, many acquired through Quanzhou’s bustling maritime trade during the Song and Yuan dynasties, testifies to the city’s prosperity and its role as a hub for cultural exchange.

Kaiyuan Temple Fast Facts
• Chinese Name: Kāi Yuán Sì 开元寺
• Best Time to Visit: All year around
• Recommended Visiting Hours: 1 - 2 x hours
• Things to Do: Photography, Buddhism, History and Culture
• Opening Hours: 6:30 – 17:00
• Entrance Fee: Free
• Address: 176 West Street, Licheng District, Quanzhou, Fujian Province

What to Expect at the Kaiyuan Temple
Kaiyuan Temple, a thousand-year-old treasure nestled in the heart of Quanzhou, holds a special place in the hearts of its people, and each hour of the day unveils a distinct beauty – from the morning sutra recitations to the evening bell’s resonance, from the sunset glow to the breathtaking starry nights seen within the temple’s tranquil ground.

The Hall of Heavenly Kings
The Hall of Heavenly Kings is of a traditional architectural style characteristic of the Qing Dynasty, featuring a single-eave and hard-ridge roof. Tall octagonal stone pillars stand within, adorned with a wooden couplet by the renowned Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279) Neo-Confucianist Zhu Xi: “This place was anciently called the Buddha’s Kingdom; the streets were filled with saints.” This couplet reflects the historical prosperity of Buddhism in Quanzhou.

Instead of the typical Four Heavenly Kings, statues of Guhyapada Vajrapani and Brahma are arranged according to Buddhist esoteric (Tantric) traditions. Their fierce expressions and powerful stances exude an air of authority, distinguishing them from more common depictions.

The Sutra Repository
The Sutra Repository in Kaiyuan Temple, originally built in 1285 (Yuan Dynasty), serves as a place for lecturing on and storing Buddhist scriptures. Renovated in 1925 into a two-story cement pavilion, it houses a remarkable collection of sutras, including Song, Yuan, and Ming dynasty prints, palm-leaf manuscripts, Diamond Sutras, and blood-written sutras.

The first floor is used for chanting sutras and worshipping Buddha, while the second floor houses over 3,700 volumes of sutras in various editions. These include editions of the “Tripitaka” and the “Lotus Sutra” printed with gold and silver ink, as well as palm-leaf manuscripts written in Tamil. Beyond the sutras, the repository also preserves a collection of artifacts from the Tang Dynasty and later periods, including 32 statues of various sizes and materials (jade, copper, porcelain, and wood) depicting Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, Arhats, and Heavenly Kings.

The Hall of the Mahavira
Also known as the Purple Cloud Hall, the Hall of the Mahavira is the main building of Kaiyuan Temple, covering an impressive 1,338 square meters. This 20-meter (65.6 ft) tall hall features a double-eaved hip-and-gable roof and is renowned for its intricate dougong brackets. These brackets, connecting the central stone pillars and beams, are carved into twenty-four flying celestial musicians inspired by the mythical “Kalavinka” bird (or “beautiful-voiced bird”) from Buddhist scriptures. Depicted with human bodies, feathered wings, and bird legs, these celestial beings hold various musical instruments or the “Four Treasures of the Study” (brush, ink, paper, and inkstone). These carvings are not only structurally vital but also possess exceptional artistic value, making them a rare example in Chinese wooden architecture.

Enshrined in the hall’s center is Vairocana Buddha, the supreme deity in Esoteric Buddhism. He is flanked by the four other Buddhas of the cardinal directions: Akshobhya (East), Ratnasambhava (South), Amitabha (West), and Amoghasiddhi (North), forming the Five Wisdom Buddhas. Each 6-meter (19.7 ft) tall statue radiates a golden glow, showcasing intricately detailed robes, benevolent expressions, and dignified appearances. Their hand gestures symbolize different aspects of Buddhist teachings, such as preaching, giving, welcoming, and meditation, demonstrating exquisite and awe-inspiring craftsmanship.

Attending the Five Wisdom Buddhas are ten other figures, including Bodhisattvas like Manjushri and Samantabhadra, disciples like Ananda and Kasyapa, and celestial beings like Avalokiteshvara, Mahasthamaprapta, Skanda, Guan Yu, Brahma, and Indra.

The Sweet Dew Ordination Altar
Ordination altars, known as the Sweet Dew Ordination Altar, are platforms where Buddhist monks traditionally receive their precepts. This particular altar features a majestic double-eaved, hipped roof and a surrounding corridor. Its five levels ascend towards enlightenment, culminating in a wooden statue of Vairocana Buddha, a relic of the Ming Dynasty, seated serenely at the top. The Buddha rests upon an elaborate thousand-petal lotus throne, each petal intricately carved with a miniature 6-centimeter Buddha image. The remaining levels showcase a pantheon of 24 Bodhisattva and deity statues, including the Four Wisdom Kings, each wielding their symbolic implements – a hook, rope, bell, and chain. Among them stand Shakyamuni Buddha, Amitabha Buddha, the jovial figures of Hanshan and Shide, the compassionate Thousand-Armed Avalokiteshvara, and the powerful Skanda.

The East Pagoda – Zhen Guo Pagoda (Pagoda of Protecting the Nation)
Kaiyuan Temple features two magnificent pagodas, one on each side of the main hall, creating a symmetrical arrangement. These twin five-story, octagonal stone pagodas hold the distinction of being the tallest surviving pair from the Song Dynasty in China.

Representing the eastern Saha world, the East Pagoda stands 48.24 meters (158 ft) tall. It comprises four distinct sections: the base, body, roof, and spire, all supported by a central pillar approximately 4 meters (13 ft) in diameter that runs through all levels. The tower walls are constructed from intricately carved granite blocks, fitted together in an interlocking pattern that showcases the skill of ancient artisans. Each level features 16 carved Buddha statues, for a total of 80, representing the five progressive realms of Buddhist cultivation: celestial beings, Arhats, eminent monks, Bodhisattvas, and Buddhas. These realms symbolize the stages of spiritual development in Buddhist teachings. Furthermore, the base features 40 carvings, primarily depicting scenes from Buddhist scriptures.

The West Pagoda – Ren Shou Pagoda (Pagoda of Benevolent Longevity)
Similarly impressive, the West Pagoda, representing the western Pure Land, stands at 45.06 meters (147 ft), slightly shorter than its eastern counterpart but completed ten years earlier. Its overall design closely mirrors that of the East Pagoda. However, a key distinction lies in the fourth level’s carvings, which include a male Avalokiteshvara (a form of the Bodhisattva of Compassion popular in Indian Buddhism) and a monkey pilgrim wearing a belt inscribed with the Peacock King Sutra. These unique carvings reflect the cultural exchange and integration of foreign religious influences.

How to Get to Kaiyuan Temple
• By Bus: Take bus 6, 33, 601 to Kaiyuansi ximen (West gate of Kaiyuan Temple) Station.