Shanxi Pingyao, China
Home Page
 
 
 
Pingyao Attractions
Ancient City Wall  
Rishengchang Bank  
Ming Qing Street  
City God Temple  
Confucius Temple  
Shuanglin Monastery You are here >>  
Zhenguo Temple  
Qiao's Compound  
Wang's Compound  
More ...  
 
Pingyao Travel Guide
Pingyao Overview  
Pingtao Attractions  
Pingyao Weather  
Pingyao Train  
Pingyao Maps  
Pingyao Tours  
Shuanglin Temple
 
City: Pingyao
Address : Qiaotou Village, Pingyao City, Shanxi Province, China
Open Hours : Daily ( 8:30am- 4:30pm )
Time for Visit: 1.5 Hours
Ticket Price : RMB 25/p.p
 
Introduction of The Shuanglin Temple:

Located in the Qiaotou Village about 6 kilometers to Pingyao Shanxi Province, the Shuanglin Temple is reputed to be the 'ancient painted sculptures museum'. The temple houses more than 2,000 colorful sculptures reflecting the exquisite skills of the artisans of Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties. The Shuanglin Temple was included in the World Heritage List by UNESCO as an important cultural site of Ping Yao City in 1997.

Originally, the Shuanglin Temple was called Zhongdu Temple but it was renamed Shuanglin during the Song Dynasty (960-1127). In Chinese, Shuang means two or double, and Lin, forest. The temple got its name from a Buddhist story. According to the Buddhist sutra, Sakyamuni who was the founder of Buddhism, entered nirvana under two trees; Hence, its name Shuanglin.

   
the Shuanglin Temple is reputed to be the 'ancient painted sculptures museum'.
Reconstructed in 571, Shuanglin Temple has a history of about 1,400 years. The temple consists of ten large and small halls, and the sutra chanting hall and monks' rooms. The ten halls include the Heavenly Kings' Hall, the Arhats' Hall, the Mahavira Hall (Da Xiong Bao Dian), and the One-Thousand Buddha Hall, the Sakyamuni Hall, the Bodhisattva Hall, the Ti-tsang Bodhisattva Hall, the Guan Yu's Hall and two other halls. Guan Yu was a famous general of Shu during Period of Three Kingdoms. Later, he would be worshipped as a god.
   
Standing in front of the Heavenly Kings' Hall, tourists will see the sculptures of the four Heavenly Kings below the eaves of the veranda, which look mighty and magnificent. Below the eaves of the hall hangs a plaque with the three characters 'Tian', 'Zhu' and 'Sheng' written on it. In the Heavenly Kings' Hall, the sculpture of Maitreya is worshiped with two Bodhisattvas attending on his left and right. There are also four Heavenly Kings and eight Bodhisattvas. With a height of three meters (ten feet) each of the four holds a Pipa (a Chinese musical instrument), a sword, a snake or an umbrella in hand. All the sculptures in the hall are vivid and lifelike.
   
Shuanglin Temple in Shanxi

In the middle of the Arhats' Hall is the sculpture of Kwan-yin with eighteen arhats standing to the left and right. The facial expressions of these arhats differ from each other. With one drunken arhat, another sick, yet another as a dwarf while others fat and thin, they all exemplify the ancient artisans' excellent skills. The mute arhat is most famous. His face is exaggerated with his eyebrows frowned and lips sealed. It seems that he has seen much unfairness in the world but can not express this to others.

   

In the One-thousand Buddha Hall is enshrined Kwan-yin sitting on the pedestal with her right leg bent and left one stepping on a lotus leaf. The Veda in the hall is reputed to be the best in China and well worth exploring. There are also about 500 sculptures of Bodhisattva in different carriages.

The Sakyamuni Hall and the Bodhisattva Hall are also two must-sees of Shuanglin Temple. In the Sakyamuni Hall is the sculpture of Sakyamuni attended, on left and right, by Manjusri and Samantabhadra. The sculptures on the walls depict some stories related to Sakyamuni. The sculpture of One-thousand Hand Kwan-yin is the most renowned in the Bodhisattva Hall while on the walls of the Hall are embedded about 480 sculptures of Bodhisattvas.

 

beijing-travels.com offers online information on the Shuanglin Temple and More Attractions of Pingyao. Keep browsing our site for more information on China.

   
 
   
 

Shanxi is realy a nice tourism Province with the picturesque sceneries and famous cultural sites. beijing-travels.com is a full service China travel agency providing popular Tours to Shanxi and the around areas.

Shanxi Featured Tours: 6 Day Beijing - Datong - Pingyao - Taiyuan Tour Package

China Shanxi Tours
We specialize in "Private" & "Self-Guided" tours, Design your own tours with our help to meet your unique and different interests, Let us assist you to experience your own China trip...
24 hours supported with sales@beijing-travels.com
   
   
 
Beijing Travel
Home Page home About us about us Sitemaps sitemap E-mail us sales@beijing-travels.com Call us 0086-13801067568