 The
Xuedou Temple History
The Xuedou Temple was built in Jin Dynasty and relocated
in 841 a.d. during the Tang Dynasty. The temple was known as the "Buddha
Temple near the Waterfalls. The temple is located on Xuedou Mountain
and considered one of the 10 greatest temples.
The temple was burnt almost completely
down during the cultural revolution. It has been rebuilt and notably
during 1953 and 1962 where refurbishment of the figures took place.
Then again in 1986 where major temple rebuilding occured.
The Xuedou Temple in Fenghua County will
starting building the new Giant Smiling Buddha in early January 2007.
The statue will be 38 meters (124.5 feet) tall and cost 200 million
yuan (25.6 million $US). Maitreya (Smiling Buddha) is a very popular
image of Buddha among Chinese people. After it was brought to China,
Chinese people altered the image to one of a local monk called the
Cloth Bag monk (Bu Dai monk). The Buddha has a wide smile, his belly
and hissincerity.
The Cloth Bag monk (religous name was Qici) lived between 907 and
923 A.D.He was born in Changting Village in Fenghua, he styled himself
as a man in Changting Village. After he became a monk, he went from
temple to temple in Fenghua. He became partial to the Xuedou Temple.
|
