Nanchan Temple

Nanchan Temple Highlights: Must-See Features and Attractions

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Nanchan Temple, located in Lijia Village, Yangbai Township, Wutai County, is a rare national treasure in terms of architecture, statues and brick carvings. Nanchan Temple has the oldest existing wooden structure in my country, the Great Buddha Hall. It is the oldest building among the ancient buildings in Mount Wutai. According to the inscription on the beam of the hall, it can be determined that the hall was rebuilt in the third year of Tang Dezong Jianzhong (782 AD), which has a history of more than one thousand years. The Great Buddha Hall is the main building of Nanchan Temple, sharing twelve eaves pillars to support the huge roof. The stigmas of the surrounding eaves and columns are slightly inward, and the four corner columns are slightly higher, so that the arches protruding from each layer are lifted up, and the ends of the ridge are decorated with owl kisses. The main hall is stable and pretty, with a concise structure and a typical large-scale wooden structure in the mid-Tang Dynasty. In the main hall, you can also admire the statues of the Tang Dynasty. In the hall, there is a statue of Sakyamuni Buddha, and on both sides are two Bodhisattvas, Manjushri and Samantabhadra. Whether it is Manjusri Bodhisattva riding a lion, Samantabhadra Bodhisattva riding an elephant, or Ananda and Kasyapa standing still, all of them have a calm demeanor and lifelike expressions. Around the Buddhist altar, there are dozens of Tang Dynasty brick carvings, all of which are masterpieces of Tang Dynasty brick relief art. There are also two stone lions and stone pagodas in Nanchan Temple, which are also relics of the Tang Dynasty. One is a reclining lion, and the other is in the form of "two lions facing each other"; the stone pagoda is about half a meter high and is divided into five floors.