Cultural Relics of Shuangguitang Temple

Shuangguitang Temple lies on the Wanzhu Mountain 13 kilometer east of Liangping County of Chongqing. It is a key national Buddhism temple. Shuanggui means two Sweet Tea Olive trees. There are two Sweet Tea Olive trees in the temple, thus obtaining its name.

Cultural Relics of Shuangguitang Temple - Guansheng Hall

Entering the Shuangguitang Temple, Guansheng Hall is the first hall that comes to your sight. In the middle of the hall, Guansheng is enshrined and worshipped. Guansheng is actually the senior general, Guan Yu, of Shu Kingdom in the Three Kingdoms period. He was a loyal, brave and determined and was respected by the people. In Buddhism, Guan Yu is regarded as the Hufa Deity whose task is to uphold the law.

Cultural Relics of Shuangguitang Temple - Fengsheng Pond

Behind the Guansheng Hall in Shuangguitang Temple is the Fangsheng Pond.. Fangsheng means to free the captive animals. So the Fangsheng Pond is a pond for setting the captive animals free. Every year, on the 8th day of the fourth month of lunar calendar, the monks in the temple and the followers will come together with some captive animals and set them free. Nobody dares to arrest the animals in the pond. There is an old turtles which is already 300 years old. After you set some animal free, you are forbidden to eat the same kind of animals any longer. So be careful when you set them free.

Cultural Relics of Shuangguitang Temple - Maitreya Buddha Hall

In the Shuangguitang Temple lies a Maitreya Buddha Hall. In the Maitreya Buddha Hall, the statue of Maitreya Buddha is enshrined and worshipped. Maitreya Buddha is a very optimistic and amicable Buddha. He is always smiling with a big belly like a pot. He is the embodiment of optimism and leniency. Looking at his smiling face, all of your annoyances and worries will disappear.

The Main Hall Of Shuangguitang Temple

In the middle of Shuangguitang Temple lies the Main Hall. The golden statue of Sakyamuni is enshrined and worshipped in the hall. The essence of the Main Hall is its building. It is a three-storied building which was built in 1653. The hall is supported by 52 stone columns whose length is nine meters and diameter is 0.7 meter. The columns are octagons with a weight of 20 tons. They were mined, moved and erected by human. The Main Hall is called the "Architectural Gem of Qing Dynasty".

Cultural Relics of Shuangguitang Temple - Wenshu Hall

Behind the Main Hall in the Shuangguitang Temple lies the Wenshu Hall. It is a two-storied wooden building and is the earliest building in the Shuagguitang Temple. What is amazing is that no nails were used in the construction of the building. There is still an inscription record of its constructing process on the crossbeam. Wenshu Bodhisattva is the embodiment of wisdom. So many parents will come here to pray for their children to get good grades.

Cultural Relics of Shuangguitang Temple - Poshan Tower

The corpse of Poshan was buried in Poshan Tower. Poshan (1597-1666) was the first Buddhist abbot of the Shuangguitang Temple. It is said that he two Sweet Tea Olive trees were planted by Poshan and also the Shuangguitang Temple was built by him. He became a Buddhist monk when he was 19 years old. He devoted himself to the study of Buddhism, Paleography and literature and made sizeable contribution to the culture of Shuangguirtang Temple. He was called the "Small Sakyamuni".

Other Relics in Shuangguitang Temple

Shaungguitang Temple has gone through a long history and there are 237 cultural relics in it, among them are 61 ancient calligraphies and paintings, 110 Buddha statues and 66 other Buddhism relics. Other relics include the Buddhist sutras and stone inscriptions and so on.