Shanhua Temple
Shanhua Temple | |
---|---|
![]() The temple's Mahavira Hall | |
Religion | |
Affiliation | Buddhist |
Province | Shanxi |
Location | |
Location | Datong |
Architecture | |
Completed | 11th century |
Shanhua Temple (Chinese:
History
[edit]The Shanhua Temple was first founded during the Kaiyuan period of the Tang dynasty (713-741) under the patronage of emperor Xuanzong, at which time it was known as the Kaiyuan Temple. After the fall of the Tang dynasty during the Five Dynasties period (906-960), the temple underwent a name change and was known as Da Pu’ensi. During this chaotic time, out of ten buildings at the temple, only three or four escaped destruction. After the takeover by the Liao dynasty in 960, the temple assumed its present configuration.[1]
The temple was again heavily damaged when the Jin dynasty took over in 1120, and in 1128 repair work was started that took fifteen years to complete.[2] In 1421, more repairs were undertaken, this time by a monk named Dayong. In 1445, he received an imperial presentation of sutras. This is also the first time that the temple was referred to by its present name, Shanhua Temple. In the late 16th century, drum and bell towers were built on the same stone platform (yuetai,
Architecture
[edit]The Shanhua Temple today consists of three main halls (The Mahavira Hall, the Sansheng Hall and the Main Gate) arranged on a north–south axis and two pavilions located to the east and west of the Sansheng Hall. There are also two smaller halls on each side of the Mahavira Hall. The main halls were all first built during the Liao dynasty (907-1125), but only the Mahavira Hall is now considered a Liao Building.[6] The Main Gate and Sansheng Hall were extensively renovated during the subsequent Jin dynasty, and are classified by scholars as being Jin buildings.[7]
Main Hall
[edit]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0e/Shanhua_Temple_2.jpg/150px-Shanhua_Temple_2.jpg)
The Main or Mahavira Hall (
Along with other statues of disciples and attendants grouped with the large statues, there are also statues of the Twenty-Four Celestial Devas located next to the east and west walls.[10] There are 190 square meters of murals in the hall.[11] They date from 1708 to 1716, but have been damaged over the years.[12]
Sansheng Hall
[edit]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4d/Datong_Shanhua_Si_2013.08.29_12-33-06.jpg/286px-Datong_Shanhua_Si_2013.08.29_12-33-06.jpg)
The Sansheng Hall (Chinese:
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/40/Shanhua_Temple_3.jpg/150px-Shanhua_Temple_3.jpg)
Puxian Pavilion
[edit]The Puxian Pavilion (Chinese:
The building was rebuilt in 1953 after having been destroyed during the war. The pavilion measures three bays by two, but is nearly a perfect square. It is built on a short stone platform called a yuetai (
Wenshu Pavilion
[edit]This pavilion (Chinese:
Main Gate
[edit]The Main Gate (Chinese:
References
[edit]Citations
[edit]- ^ Steinhardt (1997), 141.
- ^ Steinhardt (1997), 142-143.
- ^ Steinhardt (1997), 143.
- ^ a b Steinhardt (1997), 147.
- ^ Guo, (2002), 153.
- ^ Steinhardt (1994), 7
- ^ See Steinhardt, 1994 and 1997.
- ^ a b Steinhardt (1997), 145.
- ^ Howard (2006), 376.
- ^ a b Howard (2006), 378.
- ^ Shen (2002), 44
- ^ Shen (2002), 44-45
- ^ Zhao (2007), 118.
- ^ Shen (2002), 45.
- ^ Steinhardt (1997), 149.
- ^ Steinhardt (1997), 148.
- ^ China.com.cn (2008).
大同 文殊 阁修缮进展 顺利古 建 筑群对称美 感 将 现. Retrieved on 2009-06-29. - ^ a b Shen (2002), 47.
- ^ Shen (2002), 46-47.
- ^ Shen (2002), 46.
Bibliography
[edit]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- Howard, Angela Falco, et al. Chinese Sculpture. New Haven: Yale University Press, 2006. ISBN 0-300-10065-5
- Guo Daibeng. "The Liao, Song, Xixia and Jin Dynasties." in Nancy Shatzman Steinhardt, ed., Chinese Architecture (New Haven: Yale University, 2002), 131–198. ISBN 0-300-09559-7
- Shen Weichen, (in Chinese) ed. Huayan Temple, Shanhua Temple, Wall of Nice Dragons. Taiyuan: Shanxi People's Press, 2002. ISBN 7-203-04586-2
- Steinhardt, Nancy Shatzman. "Liao: An Architectural Tradition in the Making," Artibus Asiae (Volume 54, Number 1/2, 1994): 5–39.
- Steinhardt, Nancy Shatzman. Liao Architecture. Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press, 1997. ISBN 0-8248-1843-1
- Zhao Yu, (in Chinese) ed. Shanxi. Beijing: Chinese Travel Press, 2007. ISBN 978-7-5032-3001-1
External links
[edit]40°05′09″N 113°17′37″E / 40.08583°N 113.29361°E