Jade Buddha Temple

Buddhism, Islam and Christianity are the three major religions in practice in Shanghai. The Jade Buddha Temple is a famous Buddhist temple in the country known for its two jade Buddha statues.

The Jade Buddha Temple of Shanghai was built during the reign of Emperor Guangxu (1875-1908) of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1912), when a Buddhist priest named Huigen from a monastery on Mount Putuo in Zhejiang Province went on a pilgrimage to Burma and brought back five jade statues of Sakyamuni. On his way back to Mount Putuo by Shanghai he left two jade statues here, one in sitting position and the other, reclining. He had a temple specially built to enshrine these two statues. The temple was completed in 1882 and named the Jade Buddha Temple. Later, the temple was partly destroyed by fire and in 1918 a new temple was built on the present site. There are five main buildings: the Heavenly King Hall, the Grand Hall, the Hall of the Reclining Buddha, the Jade Buddha Chamber and the Abbot’s Room.

The Grand Hall of the Jade Buddha Temple

The first hall is the Heavenly King Hall. In this hall there is a tablet with four characters meaning “Majestic in Looks and Gracious in Protection”, in praise of the four heavenly kings in defending the Buddhist heaven and protecting all living creatures. The first one on the left is the Eastern King, King of Protection for Buddhism. Next to him is the Southern King, King of Developing Merit. The statue facing the front gate is Bodhisattva, popularly known as the laughing Buddha, as he always greets visitors with a broad smile. According to Buddhist scriptures he is a successor to Sakyamuni, and so he is also known as the Future Buddha. The first on the left is the Western King, King of Far Sight. Next to him is the Northern King, King of Virtue.

The Beautiful Mural in Shanghai Jade Buddha Temple

The next hall is the Grand Hall also known as the Treasure Hall of the Great Sage. In the middle of the hall is the statue of Sakyamuni, the founder of Buddhism. On his left is Medicine Buddha who is responsible for the Eastern Bright World and on his right is Amitabha Buddha who is in charge of the Western Paradise. Each is seated in a lotus blossom and has a back halo. On the two sides of the hall are twenty heavenly gods, or guardians of Buddhism. They all bend slightly forward, as if they are listening to Sakyamuni attentively. In the back of the hall is Goddess of Mercy or Guanyin. He attained buddhahood before Sakyamuni and took the image of a goddess in order to convert women to Buddhism. He is described as a Bodhisattva of great mercy. Any living creatures in trouble need only to recite his name and he will respond to the cry and readily come to help.

The Jade Reclining Buddha in Shanghai Jade Buddha Temple                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

The Reclining Buddha Hall is on the left back of the Grand Hall. The Reclining Buddha is Sakyamuni on his deathbed, or entering nirvana. The jade statue is 96 cm long carved out of a single piece of jade. It was brought from Burma together with the other statue in sitting posture.  The carving was exquisitely done. It has delicate features and a slender figure. With eyes looking slightly upward and reclining on his right arm he looks calm, and carefree. It is said that in his entire life-time he had taught 500 disciples, therefore when he died he felt no worries since he firmly believed that his disciples world carry forward his principles and preach his doctrines to emancipate mankind. This piece of jade carving is considered a rare Buddhist relic, which contributes to the Jade Buddha Temple’s reputation.

The Sitting Jade Buddha in Shanghai Jade Buddha Temple

The Jade Buddha Chamber is on the second floor of the Buddha Hall where the Jade Buddha is in a sitting posture. Although there are temples and monasteries of different sizes all over the country, stone and clay sculptured statues are of a great number, but a jade statue of his size is rare. It is 1.92 m tall and 1.34 m wide. The jewels on his head, arms and feet are all genuine ones. They were donated by Buddhist believers. The statue was carved out of a single piece of white jade. The jade is soft in luster, even in color, pure and flawless and carved with exquisite workmanship. The statue looks life-like, with gentle and soft features and is considered a precious relic of the Buddhist art. This is the reason why the temple enjoys a high reputation. 

Restaurants in the Jade Buddha Temple

◎Public restaurant-The public restaurant is located on level two at the eastern edge of the temple and equipped with its own street entrance. Open daily, it serves a range of noodle dishes for five yuan per bowl, the most popular of which is 'double mushroom noodles'. Other dishes are served at moderate prices. Tickets are sold by color and this ticket is turned in inside the main eating room and your soup is then delivered to your table which you might share with others. Upstairs is a much more upscale restaurant at much higher prices.

 ◎Private restaurant-The temple also contains a private restaurant for the use of monks and temple volunteers, which is at the western edge of the temple complex. There is a visitor services office adjacent to the southern entrance, and a Buddhist library is also on the premises.


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