Jade Buddha Temple, Shanghai

Jade Buddha Temple, Shanghai
Source: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:China-Shanghai-Jade_Buddha_Temple_6046-05.jpg
Author: Steve46814


The Jade Buddha Temple, also known as the Shanghai Yufo Temple, is one of the most important Buddhist temples in Shanghai, China. The temple is located at 170 Anyuan Road. It is a Mahayana Buddhist temple that subscribes to both the Pure Land and Chan traditions.

The Jade Buddha Temple was founded in 1882 by Abbot Hui Gen during the reign of Emperor Guang Xu (1875-1908) of the Qing Dynasty. Abbot Hui Gen had made a Buddhist pilgrimage to Tibet passing through Mount Wutai and Mount Emei. On his return journey he arrived in Myanmar, where he received a gift of five jade statues of the Buddha from an overseas Chinese resident of Myanmar, one Chen Jun-Pu. Abbot Hui Gen brought two of these statues back to Jiang-wan, Shanghai, and enshrined them in a temple there. Not long after that, he passed away.

During the upheavals of the Chinese Revolution, the temple was taken over by revolutionists, and the statues were relocated for safekeeping. In 1918, a new abbot Ke Chen started work on the present temple. It was completed ten years later, and opened with a lavish ceremony.

Jade Buddha Temple, exterior
Source: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Shanghai_jade_buddha_temple_outside.jpg
Author: lamtherealnick


As with most temples in China, the Jade Buddha Temple suffered during the Cultural Revolution, when its monks were forced to make a living selling handicrafts. It was only reopened in 1980, thirty years after it was forced to close. Yet today it is one of the biggest temples in Shanghai, with about 100 monks.

The Jade Buddha Temple has three main halls linked by two courtyards. The first is the Hall of the Heavenly Kings, which contains the statues of the Maitreya, Wei Tuo Bodhisattva and the four Heavenly Kings.

The second hall is the Grand Hall of Magnificence, which contains three golden Buddha statues, representing the three incarnations of the Buddha, and many other statues.

Reclining Buddha
Source: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:China-Shanghai-Jade_Buddha_Temple_6048-05.jpg
Author: Steve46814


The final major hall is the Jade Buddha Chamber, on the northern section of the temple. It contains a large jade statue of a reclining Buddha. Upstairs is another, more exquisite statue, carved from a single piece of jade encrusted in jewels, of a seated Buddha. Photography is not allowed here. The Jade Buddha Temple is open daily from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm.

How to reach the Jade Buddha Temple

Take Line 7 of the Shanghai Metro to the Chang Shou Road subway station. Walk south down Changde Road until intersection with Anyuan Road. Turn left and walk east on Anyuan Road until you reach the Jade Buddha Temple on your left.

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