Daxingshan Temple

A Brief Introdution
Daxingshan Temple is located about 2.5 kilometers south from the Xi'an City. It was originally built in the Jin Dynasty, Emperor Si Mayan, more than 1600 years from present. It was named Zunshan Temple at that time. In the second year of the Emperor Yang Jian, on the basis of the temple he ordered to enlarge it and changed its name into Daxingshan Temple.

Buddhism was so popular in Chang'an, the predecessor of present Xi'an City, during the Sui and Tang Dynasties. Many Indian monks stayed there to translate the sutras and promulgate the Buddhist doctrines. Over time, the Daxingshan Temple became one of three temples particularly used for translating sutras. The other two are Ci'en Temple and Jianfu Temple. To some degree, it is the cradle of Chinese Buddhism also a memorialize place in the China-India cultural communication process.

History & Background
Daxingshan Temple once was the greatest Buddhist establishment of the Sui and Tang Dynasties, but since the tenth century it has been destroyed and rebuilt several times. 

The latest reconstruction was built in 1956. Today, it has been turned into a small, quiet and charming park. The main buildings have been repainted and a handful of monks live and worship there. 

The history of this temple can be traced back to the third century, when its original name was Zunshan Temple. During the Sui Dynasty, it was rebuilt and was given its present name. Since then, it gradually became the headquarters of an order with a network of 45 prefectural temples, which were all established by Yang Qian, the founder of the Sui Dynasty. 

During the Tang Dynasty, it became a great center of Buddhist art and learning. However, during the Buddhist persecution of 841-845, most of the buildings were destroyed and even ones that survived also disappeared by the end of the Tang. 

The temple was rebuilt in the Ming and again restored in 1785 by an expert on Tang Dynasty Chang'an called Bi Yuan (1730-97). After its reconstruction in 1956 it was used by a Community of Lamaist monks until the Cultural Revolution (1966-76). Today it houses the Xian Buddhist Association.

Structure & Architecture
Hall of Heavenly Kings
Hall of Heavenly Kings is the most spectacular hall in the north-south axis. On it the statues of the Four Heavenly Kings, also called the Guardians of the Four Quarters, stand on the east and west sides. Inside, smiling and bellied Maitreya is enshrined and behind it is a Ming Dynasty wood-carved Wei Tuo, the guardian angel of the Buddhist temples.

Guanyin Hall
The grand and imposing Guanyin Hall enshrines Guanyin, or 'Born of the Lotus', a deity known across all Asia as ‘the Goddess of Mercy’. In Chinese Buddhism, she is regarded as a personification of compassion, goodness and wisdom, and therefore is worshiped by Chinese people. The golden Guanyin is portrayed as thousand armed bodhisattva with a thousand eyes, which may greatly surprise you. The hall with carved beams and painted rafters is magnificent. In its front, a delicately-carved guardrail made of bluestones is also worthy of your appreciation.

Nearby Attractions
The Qinglong Temple, The Bell Tower, Drum Tower, The Shaanxi History Museum, The Beilin Museum, The Big Wild Goose Pagoda, and The Small Wild Goose Pagoda.

Information
Admission Fee: Free
TEL: 029-85216034

How to get to Daxingshan Temple

Take Bus No. 26, 323, 521, K605, 701, 704, 716, 720, 721, 722