Fengguo Temple

Fengguo Temple

Fengguo Temple is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction and a cultural tourism site.

Fengguo Temple was first built in the ninth year of the KaiTai era during the Liao Dynasty (1020), established as an imperial temple by Emperor Shengzong of Liao, Yelü Longxu—who was believed to be the reincarnation of Sakyamuni—on his mother Empress Xiao’s (Xiao Chuo) “family fiefdom.” Originally named Xianxi Temple (also known as the Great Buddha Temple or Seven Buddha Temple due to the seven large Buddha statues enshrined within). It was renamed Da Fengguo Temple during the Jin Dynasty.

From its founding until the Qing Dynasty, the temple underwent more than ten renovations over various dynasties and suffered two recorded earthquakes. Major renovation periods include the third year of the Tianjuan era of the Jin Dynasty (1140), the seventh year of the Dade era of the Yuan Dynasty (1303), and the twenty-third year of the Chenghua era of the Ming Dynasty (1487).

Behind the back door of the Mahavira Hall stands a statue of the Reversed Guanyin, remodeled in the thirty-first year of the Wanli era of the Ming Dynasty (1603). After the sixteenth year of the Jiaqing era of the Qing Dynasty (1811), structures were successively erected on the ruins of the original Guanyin Pavilion, including the Wanshou Hall (later renamed Wuliang), the five-bay mountain gate was changed to three bays, the Mahavira Hall was enclosed with stone walls, and additional structures such as the inner mountain gate and memorial archways were added. Of the Liao Dynasty architecture, only the Mahavira Hall remains. In 1961, it was designated as a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit by the State Council of the People's Republic of China. In the 1970s, the Fengguo Temple Cultural Relics Preservation Office was established to oversee protection and management. A comprehensive renovation focusing on the Mahavira Hall was carried out in 1984, which improved fire and lightning protection facilities and expanded the protected area. In 2005, it was nominated by the Liaoning Provincial People's Government for inclusion in China's Tentative List for World Heritage Sites. In 2009, Fengguo Temple was rated as a national AAAA-level tourist attraction by the National Tourism Administration. In 2013, it was included in the Tentative List for World Heritage Sites.

Architectural Layout

The overall layout of Fengguo Temple is largely consistent with that of Dule Temple and Shanhua Temple in Datong. There are also over ten steles recording renovations of Fengguo Temple from the Jin, Yuan, Ming, and Qing Dynasties. The Mountain Gate, Memorial Archway, and Wuliang Hall were all constructed during the Qing Dynasty. The temple is divided into the Temple Gate, Middle Hall, and Mahavira Hall. On one side, there is an exhibition of unearthed cultural relics. Fengguo Temple follows a typical Han Chinese Buddhist temple layout, covering an area of about 60,000 square meters, facing south with the north at the back. Along the central axis are the Outer Mountain Gate, Inner Mountain Gate, Memorial Archway, Heavenly King Hall, and Mahavira Hall. To the east of the Mahavira Hall are the God of Wealth Hall and Bodhisattva Hall; to the west are the Western Trinity Hall and the Yixian Unearthed Cultural Relics Exhibition Room. The west side of the Heavenly King Hall houses the scenic area’s shopping center. The entire temple complex includes five Buddhist halls, enshrining a total of 44 Buddha and Bodhisattva statues: the Seven Past Buddhas, one reversed male Guanyin statue, two Hengha Generals, 14 Attendant Bodhisattvas, one Maitreya Buddha, one Skanda, four Heavenly Kings, four Bodhisattvas, seven Gods of Wealth, and three Statues of the Western Trinity.

Main Structures

Heavenly King Hall

The Heavenly King Hall was originally built in the third year of the Tianjuan era of the Jin Dynasty (1141), initially named Wanshou Hall, later changed to Wuliang Hall, and renovated in the forty-ninth year of the Kangxi era of the Qing Dynasty (1710). On October 14, 2008, it was renamed the Heavenly King Hall based on the traditional layout of Han Chinese temples. The hall features a single-eave hip-and-gable roof, with a width of three bays and a depth of two bays, measuring 16.14 meters in total width and 12.22 meters in total depth.

Inside the Heavenly King Hall, the central statue is of Maitreya Buddha, also known as the Future Buddha. It is flanked by the Four Heavenly Kings: Vaishravana (holding a sword, representing “wind”), Virupaksha (holding a pipa, representing “music/tuning”), Virudhaka (holding an umbrella, representing “rain”), and Dhritarashtra (holding a pearl and a dragon or snake, representing “submission”). The first letters of these representations—wind, music/tuning, rain, submission—form the traditional phrase “wind, tune, rain, and peace.” At the center also sits Maitreya Buddha, also called the Future Buddha. Behind the Maitreya statue is the Skanda Bodhisattva, enshrined in the thirty-first year of the Ming Wanli era (1603). The murals on the surrounding walls depict the eight major stages of Sakyamuni Buddha’s life from birth to nirvana.

Mahavira Hall

The Mahavira Hall is the largest single-story wooden structure among ancient Chinese buildings and is hailed as “China’s Greatest Mahavira Hall.” Built atop a 3-meter-high platform, it features a single-eave hip-and-gable roof with five ridges, spanning nine bays in width (48.2 meters) and five bays in depth (25.13 meters), with a height of 21 meters and a floor area of 1,829 square meters. As a top-tier Buddhist architectural masterpiece, the hall enshrines seven original Liao Dynasty clay sculptures of great Buddhas arranged from east to west: Kashyapa Buddha (Noble Buddha/Achievement Buddha), Krakucchanda Buddha (Peace Buddha), Kanakamuni Buddha (Health Buddha), Vipashyin Buddha (Prosperity and Wisdom Buddha), Shikhin Buddha (Fortune Buddha), Kashyapa Buddha (Light Buddha), and Sakyamuni Buddha (Founder of Buddhism). All seven Buddhas sit atop Sumeru pedestals, each over 9 meters tall, with the central Vipashyin Buddha reaching a combined height of 9.5 meters. The unique arrangement of the “Seven Past Buddhas” together in one hall—with Sakyamuni Buddha positioned among them—is unparalleled in Buddhist tradition. Additionally, in front of each Buddha stand two Attendant Bodhisattvas, 14 in total, each 2.5 meters tall. These bodhisattvas are depicted in various poses—some looking up, some down, some leaning, some gazing straight ahead—each standing atop a lotus flower. Their solemn and lifelike expressions are strikingly vivid.

At both ends of the Buddha altar stand one Heavenly King statue each, 3.5 meters tall, holding clubs and gazing ahead with a powerful presence. Even more remarkable is the reversed Guanyin statue behind the Vipashyin Buddha, retaining the styling of pre-Tang Dynasty male Guanyin figures.

Western Trinity Hall

Based on the traditional layout of Han Chinese temples, the Western Trinity Hall was renamed on October 10, 2008. The hall is approximately 20 meters long and 14 meters wide. The Western Trinity consists of Amitabha Buddha, Guanyin Bodhisattva, and Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva. These three are regarded as the three revered deities of the Western Pure Land in Buddhism, comprising the principal Amitabha Buddha along with the Bodhisattvas Guanyin and Mahasthamaprapta. According to the Amitabha Sutra, Amitabha Buddha possesses inconceivable merit; if beings chant his name at the moment of death, he will personally appear, holding a lotus pedestal and leading twenty-five great bodhisattvas to guide souls to the Pure Land. Guanyin and Mahasthamaprapta are the foremost among these twenty-five, serving as key assistants to Amitabha in guiding beings to rebirth in the Western Pure Land.

Archaeologists and art experts regard these works as supreme masterpieces of artistic heritage, all of which inspire awe. Given the immense historical, scientific, and artistic value of both the architecture of the Mahavira Hall and the relics within, Fengguo Temple was among the first group of sites proclaimed as National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units by the State Council in 1961. Following a five-year renovation and expansion project starting in 1984, Fengguo Temple has become a renowned Buddhist tourist destination with beautiful surroundings and comprehensive travel services. It has been honored as one of the “Nation’s Top 300 Scenic Spots,” “Fifty Best Scenic Spots in Liaoning Province,” and “Top Ten Scenic Spots in Jinzhou.”

Address: No. 18, Dongjie, Yixian County, Jinzhou City

Type: Historic Temple

Rating: AAAA

Recommended Visiting Time: 1–2 hours

Phone: 0416-7721535

Official Website: http://www.yxfgs.com

Opening Hours:

8:00–16:30

Further Reading:

· China’s 50 Greatest Existing Ancient Architectures

· First Group of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units