Dafo Temple (Xinchang)

Coordinates: 29°29′46″N 120°53′05″E / 29.496°N 120.8846°E

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Dafo Temple
大佛寺
Shanmen
Religion
Affiliation	Buddhism
Sect	Chan Buddhism
Location
Location	Xinchang County, Zhejiang, China
Shown within Zhejiang
Geographic coordinates	29°29′46″N 120°53′05″E / 29.496°N 120.8846°E / 29.496; 120.8846
Architecture
Style	Chinese architecture
Founder	Tanguang (曇光)
Date established	345–356
Completed	1871–1908 (reconstruction)

The Dafo Temple (Chinese: 大佛寺; pinyin: Dàfó Sì) is a famous Buddhist temple in Zhejiang and has a long history of more than 1600 years. This Temple is the symbol of the Xinchang County and it attracts tens of thousands of visitors every year. Recently,^[when?] the temple and its surroundings have been used as a location for movies and filming, because of its natural environment.^{[citation needed]}

Local Power

During the Cultural Revolution, locals tactfully covered the giant Buddha statues in the temple with pictures of Mao Zedong that managed to prevent the fanatic red guards from destroying the sacred statues, which they were inspired to do under the radical directive of "destroying all old traditions".

Big Buddha

Dafo Temple itself is constructed with five levels with several halls like the Heavenly King Hall, the Dafo (Big Buddha) Hall and the Scripture Hall. The Big Buddha is almost 15 meters in height, its nose alone is 1.5 meters and ears are 2.7 meters in size. It is believed that the statue is about 1,600 years old from the Eastern Jin Dynasty (317-420) and is around the same time that Buddhism began spreading from India to China.^{[citation needed]}

In the surrounding area is a grotto which is considered amongst China's earliest,^[1] and where a number of Buddha statues are to be found, including a reclining Buddha, a waterfall and a petrified forest.

Dafo Temple
Big Buddha Hall and the Scripture Hall
petrified forest

References

^ "Xinchang". www.chinadiscover.net. Retrieved 30 March 2013.

Jiangxi	Jiujiang: (Nengren Temple, Donglin Temple) Yongxiu County: Zhenru Temple Ji'an: Jingju Temple
Fujian	Fuzhou: (Yongquan Temple, Xichan Temple, Linyang Temple, Dizang Temple) Minhou County: Chongsheng Temple Xiamen: South Putuo Temple Putian: (Guanghua Temple, Cishou Temple, Guangxiao Temple) Fuqing: Wanfu Temple Quanzhou: Kaiyuan Temple Jinjiang: Longshan Temple (Jinjiang) Zhangzhou: Nanshan Temple Ningde: Huayan Temple

Changsha: (Lushan Temple, Kaifu Temple)

Mount Heng	Zhusheng Temple Fuyan Temple Nantai Temple Shangfeng Temple

Guangdong

Southwestern

Guangxi

Guiping: Xishi Temple

Chongqing

Sichuan

Chengdu: (Zhaojue Temple, Wenshu Temple, Baoguang Temple)
Leshan: Wuyou Temple

Mount Emei	Baoguo Temple (Mount Emei) Wannian Temple Hongchunping Temple Xixiang Chi Jinding

Guizhou

Guiyang: Hongfu Temple, Qianming Temple

Yunnan

Northwestern

Shaanxi	Xi'an: (Daci'en Temple, Daxingshan Temple, Wolong Temple, Guangren Temple, Xingjiao Temple, Xiangji Temple, Jingye Temple) Huyi District: Caotang Temple
Ningxia	Yinchuan: Haibao Pagoda Temple

Buddhist temples in China

Chinese Buddhist architecture
Architectonic elements	Chiwen (鴟吻) Hip-and-gable roof (歇山頂) Dougong (斗拱) Huilang [zh] (回廊) Spirit screen (影壁) Denglong (石燈籠) Terrace (台) Chinese pavilion (亭) Pagoda (塔) Stupa (舍利塔) Chinese guardian lions (石狮子) Heng and Ha (金剛力士/哼哈二將)
Men (gates)	Shanmen (Mount gate) (山門) Paifang (牌門)
Buildings	Shanmen (Hall of Mount Gate; 山門殿) Hall of Four Heavenly Kings (天王殿) Mahavira Hall (大雄寶殿) Bell tower (鐘樓) Drum tower (鼓樓) Dharma Hall (法堂) Hall of Sangharama Palace (伽藍殿) Hall of Guru (祖師殿) Hall of Kshitigarbha (地藏殿) Hall of Bhaisajyaguru (藥師殿) Hall of Guanyin (觀音殿) Arhat Hall (羅漢堂) Abbot's Room (方丈) Buddhist texts library (藏經閣) Free Life Pond (放生池)

Schools and objects of worship
Major schools	Chan Tiantai Huayan Pure Land Weishi Sanlun Tangmi
Chan schools	Linji school Caodong school Guiyang school Yunmen school Fayan school

Notable Buddhist temples in China

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Local Power

Big Buddha

References

See also