Xiangguo Temple

The Reliable China Tour Agency

Xiangguo Temple is located in the center of Kaifeng city, which is a famous Chinese Buddhist temple built during the Northern Qi Dynasty. Xiangguo Temple is originally called Jianguo Monastery, but was renamed Xiangguo Temple during the Tang Dynasty under the reign of Tang rui zong.

During the Northern Song Dynasty, the emperors paid much attention to the construction of Xiangguo Temple and it was enlarged several times. Now, the Xiangguo Temple covers an area of 500-plus meters, holds 64 temples, and thousands of monks, which is the largest Buddhist center in China presently.

The original monastery was badly damaged by flood and was renovated under the reign of Kangxi in 1671. The current Xiangguo Temple hosts the Hall of Heavenly Kings, Mahavira Hall, Tripitaka Pavilion, and a statue of Goddess of Mercy with 1,000 hands and 1,000 eyes, and other places of interests. On the eastern site of the main gate stands a giant 5-ton bell.

The Hall of Heavenly Kings has 5 rooms and 3 doors equipped with delicate cornices and yellow-tiled roofs. In the center of the hall stands a Maitreya Buddha statue seated on the lotus platform with a smile. It is said that he is the legendary Buddha of the Future who will come down to earth as the successor of Sakyamuni, the founder of Buddhism, 240 million years later. On both sides of the Maitreya Buddha statue stand Four Heavenly Kings, each of whom look fierce and seem to rectify all the evils under heaven. North of the Hall of Heavenly Kings are the flower garden and artificial hills.

The Mahavira Hall features double eaves, carved beams, and painted rafters, in which three-feet high statues of Sakyamuni, Amitabha and Pharmacist Buddha are worshiped. Behind stands the large statue of the Island God of Mercy, with the eighteen disciples of the Buddha standing on both sides.