Ciyun Temple

A Brief Introduction to Ciyun Temple

Ciyun Temple lies at the foot of the Lion Moutain in Nan'an District of Chongqing. It is on the verge of the Yangtze River. To the left of the temple is a blue stone lion which is on the opposite side of the White Elephant Street across the Yangtze River. So there is an old saying that "Yangtze River is locked by the Blue Lion and the White Elephant".

History of Ciyun Temple

Ciyun Temple, built in Tang Dynasty, was originally a Guanyin (Goddess of Mercy in Chinese Buddhism) Temple. In 1927, it was renamed Ciyun Temple and serves as the only co-ed temple in China. Monks and nuns from different parts of the country would stay here when they went to pay religious homage to famous mountains and ancient temples.

Attractions in Ciyun Temple

The temple is considered to be one of the most beautiful religious buildings with bell-drum tower on either side. A Jade Statue of Sakyamuni is consecrated at the center of the hall. The statue is believed to have been brought from Burma by a lay Buddhist called Xiang Qianfa. The sculpture is 1.87 meters high, weighs over 1500 kilos, and considered one of the largest jade Buddhas in China. There are also two small well-preserved ones of 50 centimeters in height.

In Ciyun Temple, there are the Great Buddha Hall, the Samantabhadra Shrine, the Three Buddhas Hall, Sutra Mansion, Bell-Drum Tower and so on. In the Sutra Mansion, a Song Dynasty Tripitaka (in 6362 volumes) is collected. There are also some other Buddhist scriptures, ancient calligraphy and paintings and whole sets of Buddhist pictures printed in Japan in its early years.

Together with the Jade Buddha, the Hall of Vajrapani, Thousand-buddha garments, Buddhist sutra and the linden in the temple are called the "Five Unique Views of Ciyun Temple".

The linden in Ciyun Temple is very rare and precious in China. It was transplanted from India about sixty years ago. Now the linden is very lush. Under the linden is a pond in which there is a sculpture of lotus. On the lotus stands a statue of prince Sakyamuni. Around the pond are sculptures of nine dragons whose mouths squirt the fountain water. It is called "Nine Dragon Bath Sakyamuni".