The Longhua Temple is located on the Longhua area (formerly Longhua township) of Shanghai (named after the temple). [citation needed], J.G. It coincides with the blossoming of the peach trees in Longhua Park. The pagoda was restored under an imperial edict during the Chuigong era (678) of the Tangdynasty , but it was burnt down again during the Huang Chao peasant uprising in the first year of the Guangming era (… The Longhua Martyrs Cemetery memorializes thousands of victims of this execution. Like the function of the pagoda, the name of the temple also has its origin in a local legend according to which a dragon once appeared on the site. The Four Heavenly Kings Hall housing statues of the Four Heavenly Kings. Different platforms provide an online booking opportunity. Along with the… The temple grounds have been used as a site for internment as well as for executions. Best time to travel to Shanghai. The Longhua temple complex houses Longhua temple as well as other Buddhist temples which were constructed at various periods in Chinese history. The Longhua Temple in Shanghai is a Buddhist monastery dating back to 977AD, although a temple has existed on the site since 687 AD. The temple was a grand site, but it was destroyed by war and had to be rebuilt in AD977 during the Northern Song dynasty. These outer decorations have been reconstructed in keeping with the original style. As the largest of Shanghai’s temples, it is a popular site together with its pagoda and nineteenth century bell. Easily accessible by Metro. During the Second Sino Japanese War, in the temple area, the Japanese confined a large camp. In Steven Spielberg's film adaptation of the book, the pagoda is clearly visible above the prison camp. Under the reign of Tongzhi and Guangxu, the Qing dynasty, the Longhua temple was frequently renovated. Longhua Temple is a spiritual place. The Longhua Martyrs Cemetery in Shanghai is a memorial to those who died under the regime of the Kuomintang, led by Chiang Kai-shek. History Of Longhua Temple. However, it was considered that the King of the Kingdom of Wu, Suan Quan, had got Sharira relics, which is a burnt remnant of Buddha. The temple has a long history, but how long? (According to another version of the story, as contained in Song (960–1279) and Yuan dynasty (1271–1368) local histories, the temple was first built by the King of Wuyue.) It was rebuild during Northern Song dynasty AD 977. Longhua Temple is a spiritual place. It is the largest temple in shanghai and probably in china too. It coincides with the blossoming of the peach trees in Longhua Park. Ballard in his World War II-era autobiographical novel Empire of the Sun describes the Japanese military use of the Longhua pagoda as a flak cannon tower. The King ordered to build 13 pagodas to protect these precious relics, and the Longhua pagoda is one of them. Because of its age, the pagoda is fragile and is not open to the public.[1]. From the entrance or Shanmen, the buildings are: The Maitreya Hall housing a statue of Maitreya buddha and another in his manifestation as "Budai", or Cloth bag monk. The main building of the temple is the Longhua pagoda. The temple has a long history, but how long? Now on the east side, you can see the Longhua Temple. Structurally, the pagoda consists of a cylindrical core of bricks with a wooden staircase. The evidence suggests that the Longhua temple’s story started in the 242 AD (the three kingdom period). Longhua Temple is the oldest temple in Shanghai, dating back to over 1,700 years. Every year, on New Year’s Eve, people eagerly wait for the bell ringing ceremony. In the 1920’s and 1930’s, the site of the Longhua Martyrs Cemetery was a Kuomintang prison where hundreds of communists were executed in an attempt to obliterate the communist movement. Later in the Song dynasty, in 1064, it was renamed "Kongxiang Temple" (空相寺), but the original name "Longhua Temple" was restored in the Ming dynasty (1368–1644) during the reign of the Wanli Emperor (1573–1620). The bell-ringing ceremony is held at midnight on Chinese New Year Eve in the famous Longhua Temple. It is one of those places that if you only had 24 hours in Shanghai you must absolutely see, experience, and witness. A small traditional garden remains immediately adjacent to the temple buildings. Have a fun family outing at Shanghai Happy Valley or Shanghai Disneyland. Learn local history and Chinese culture at the large Shanghai Museum. It has a long history, and is held ceremoniously on the 3rd day of the 3rd month of Chinese calendar. Whenever you travel to shanghai, don’t forget to have a tour of the Longhua temple! Finally, a complex-wide restoration was undertaken in 1954. Print Shanghai's Longhua Temple: Pagoda & History Worksheet 1. The temple was first built in 242 AD, during the Three Kingdoms Period (220–165). 618 – 907: The current scale of the temple was set during the Tang Dynasty On the outside, it is decorated with balconies, banisters, and upturned eaves. The pagoda holds 7 floors, with each reducing from the bottom. Viewing of the peach blossom in the Longhua gardens was an annual attraction for people in surrounding cities. The bell is used in the Evening Bell-Striking Ceremony conducted on New Year's Eve. Public executions were held on the site in the 20th century. A modern restoration of the entire temple complex was carried out in 1954. © 2019 Enjoy Shanghai | All Rights Reserved. Most people think that the temple was rebuilt on the same date when it was originally constructed, but it is not confirmed. Everyone seemed to visit this sacred place to perform the prayers within the limit of their free incense. 242 AD: First built during the Three Kingdoms period when Sun Quan, Ruler of the Kingdom of Wu, obtained the cremated remains of Maitreya Buddha and built a pagoda to house them. Its street address is No. It is well maintained. Let’s see. The 40-meter-tall pagoda was rebuilt in the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127). Longhua Temple. The current temple had been established in Qing Dynasty’s Guangxu period and it contains magnificent statues and Buddhist scriptures from the Qing, Ming and Tang Dynasties. Ballard describes the entire history and claims that the Japanese used the Longhua pagoda as a flak cannon tower. The Longhua Temple Fair has been held since the Ming Dynasty annually on the third day of the third month of the Lunar Calendar, when - according to local legend - the dragons visit the temple to help grant the people's wishes. The history is about 900 years old, but most of the historians claim for 1800 years. It’s an art historian paradise. He had 13 pagodas built to house … The Longhua Temple Fair has been held since the Ming dynasty annually on the third day of the third month of the Lunar Calendar, when - according to local legend - the dragons visit the temple to help grant the people's wishes. Moreover, Chinese and foreigners visit the temple with a bowl of flying monk noodles to pray for the prosperity, happiness, and good luck around the year. The pagoda consists of a hollow, tube-like brick core surrounded by a wooden staircase. During the 19th Century, Longhua temple was the site of numerous public executions. According to a legend, Sun Quan, King of the Kingdom of Wu (222–280), had obtained Sharira relics, which are cremated remains of the Buddha. Besides 108 people, others can jot down their New Year’s desires on a piece of paper (red color) and attach them to a giant tree. The Three Sages Hall (三聖殿) houses statues of the Amitabha buddha, and the Bodhisattvas Avalokiteśvara (male form) and Mahāsthāmaprāpta. The temple was destroyed by war towards the end of the Tang dynasty (618–907) and rebuilt in 977 AD, under the autonomous Kingdom of Wuyue during the Northern Song dynasty period (960–1127). The outer end of the roofs (called eaves) is covered with bells for decoration. Shanghai Longhua Temple, located on the Longhua Road at the south of the Shanghai city, was first built in 242 AD. Also situated off the main axis is a shrine to Ksitigarbha (Dizang the King Bodhisattva). It’s historical. Like the function of the pagoda, the name of the temple also has its origin in a local legend according to which a dragon … The Longhua Temple is a Buddhist Temple dedicated to the Maitreya Buddha in Shanghai, China. Longhua Pagoda, traditionally referred to as “Writing Brush Peak” (Chinese: 文筆峯; pinyin: wénbǐfēng), is thought to have originally been constructed along with Longhua Temple in the state of Wu’s Chiwu era during the Three Kingdoms Period (242-247). Moreover, a bell tower is also located at the temple entrance, whose bell rings around 108 times each NEW YEAR’S EVER as a symbol of destiny and good luck. For the New Year bell-ringing ceremony, the entrance fee is CTN 120. They are commemorated today by the Longhua Martyrs Cemetery behind the temple. In order, the five buildings are the Maitreya Hall (Mile Dian), the Emperor of Heaven Hall (Tianwang Dian), the Grand Hall of the Great Sage (Daxiong Baodian), the Three Sages Hall (Sansheng Dian), and the Abbot's Hall (Fangzhang Shi). [1], Although previous pagodas existed on the same site, the current brick base and body of the pagoda was built in 977 under the Wuyue kingdome (907–978), with continuous renovations of its more fragile wooden components on the exterior. Shanghai Longhua Temple Fair is the largest traditional temple fair in Shanghai. Artworks in the temple include statues of the Maitreya Buddha in his Bodhisattva form and in his Cloth Bag Monk incarnation, statues of the Eighteen Arhats and 20 Guardians of Buddhist Law, as well as statues of the 500 arhats. Apart from the pagoda, four main halls are also part of the temple that are exclusively allocated to the Maitreya Buddha. If you have ever watched Steven Spielberg’s movie adaption, you must have seen the pagoda above the prison camp. The Mahavira Hall is the main hall, housing statues of the historical Buddha (Shakyamuni) and two disciples. According to a legend, Sun Quan, King of the Kingdom of Wu (222–280), had obtained Sharira relics, which are cremated remains of the Buddha. The ornamental handrails, painted with yellow and red colored paints, also enhance the pagoda’s outlook. Let yourself be seduced by the charm of Longhua temple in shanghai, an ancient grandest and oldest Buddhist temple. It is a tower of 120 feet in height, constructed from red bricks (mainly) and wood (used in lesser amount). However, whereas the core of the present Longhua Pagoda survives from that period, most buildings in the temple proper were rebuilt during the reigns of the Tongzhi Emperor (1862–1874) and the Guangxu Emperor (1875–1908) in the Qing dynasty (1644–1911). It’s sacred. The hall also features an ancient bell cast in 1586, during the Wanli era of the Ming dynasty. Let’s see. Are you planning to travel to the Longhua temple? The Longhua Temple (traditional Chinese: 龍華寺; simplified Chinese: 龙华寺; pinyin: Lónghúa Sì, Shanghainese: Lon-ngu-zy, alternatively Lunghwa Temple; literally "Luster of the Dragon Temple") is a Buddhist temple dedicated to the Maitreya Buddha in Shanghai. The Longhua Temple occupies an area of more than 20,000 square meters (215,000 sq ft) and the main axis of the compound is 194 meters (636 ft) long. History of Longhua Temple The present architectural design follows the Song Dynasty original. You can learn about the history of this Buddhist monument, architecture, and the reasons to have a tour of it. It occupies an area of over 20,000 square meters (five acres) and the architectural proportion is about 5,000 square meters. To house these precious relics, the king ordered the construction of 13 pagodas. Well, in this article, we will explore Shanghai’s beautiful Longhua temple. Alongside the road, walk to the crossing. The Abbot's Hall (方丈室) is a place for lectures and formal meetings. The eye-catching peach blossoms are packed in the extensive gardens or orchards that are a big attraction of the residents of neighboring sites every spring season. Shanghai’s Longhua temple, a Buddhist temple with a large native religious population, belongs to the Chan sect of Mahayana Buddhism. Five main halls are arranged along a central north-south pointing axis. The Longhua Temple is situated in the southeast of the Xujiahui shopping area in the north of Longhua Lu. The axis is 194 meters or 637 feet long. Like the function of the pagoda, the name of the temple also has its origin in a local legend according to which a dragon once appeared on the site.[1]. Its main function was housing precious Sharira relics. Longhua Temple 龙华寺 and Pagoda was first built around 242 A.D. and is the oldest temple complex in Shanghai. Due to the spectacular architecture and artwork, the Longhua Temple is a famous tourist attraction. The temple and monastery were originally surrounded by extensive gardens and orchards. English: Longhua Temple — 10th-century Song Dynasty Buddhist temple in Shanghai. It was believed that the Longhua pagoda is the only one in shanghai. During the Second Sino-Japanese War, the Japanese operated their largest civilian internment camp in the area, where American, British, as well as nationals of other allied countries were held under poor conditions. People has great respect for the temple. Longhua Temple is the largest and the oldest temple existing in Shanghai. It is well maintained. Although most of the present day buildings date from later reconstructions, the temple preserves the architectural design of a Song dynasty (960–1279) monastery of the Chan School. The history is about 900 years old, but most of the historians claim for 1800 years. First built in 242 AD, which is during the period of the Three Kingdoms, Longhua Temple is the oldest temple in Shanghai for its long history of over 1,700 years. Take Metro line 11 or 12, which will stop at Longhua station. However, for the normal days, the fee is CYN 10, but it is crowded through the visitors during Chinese holidays. Travel, Dining, Nightlife, Jobs, Classifieds, Events,Business Reviews, things in Shanghai, 11 reasons why you should go to visit Longhua temple shanghai, 13 Best Nightlife Places in Found 158 Shanghai, 5 Cost-effective Ways to Travel With Pets, Experience The Coolest Motorcycle Sidecar Tour in Shanghai, Daily Happy hour buy one get one free on Draft Beer @Windows Scoreboard, 5 WeChat Mini-Apps that might actually improve life, How To Find a 24-Hour Laundromat Near Me Shanghai. Some claim that this is the date the temple was originally built, but no one knows for sure. 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