Golden Star Reclining Buddha Temple

Golden Star Reclining Buddha Temple

The Golden Star Reclining Buddha Temple is a cultural relic protection unit of Huludao City.

The Reclining Buddha Temple is situated on the east side of the Jinzhou–Hongluoxian Highway, 43 kilometers from Lianshan District. On the wide flat ground west of the village elementary school, a small solitary hill with exposed rocks abruptly rises. It runs from north to south and resembles a stone turtle, hence its name Turtle Hill. To the north of Turtle Hill, the Nü’er River meanders from west to east. As the saying goes, “A mountain need not be high—it is famous so long as there is a deity on it; a river need not be deep—it has spirit so long as there is a dragon in it.” Thus, this auspicious piece of land was chosen for temple construction, and the Reclining Buddha Temple was built on the northern side of the hill. Historical records indicate that the temple was first built in the 27th year of the Kangxi reign (1688 AD), rebuilt in the 23rd year of the Guangxu reign (1897 AD), and restored after the devastation of the Cultural Revolution.

Walking north along the path west of Wolong Temple Village in Jinxing Town, then ascending the cement steps up the left hillside, a rectangular temple surrounded by red-painted walls comes into view—this is the far-famed Golden Star Reclining Buddha Temple. Upon reaching the steps, two tall flagpoles immediately catch the eye. On the first and fifteenth days of the lunar month when Buddhist services are held, the Five-Star Red Flag is raised on the east side, while colorful Buddhist flags (red, yellow, blue, green, and white) are hoisted on the west. This sincerely reflects the monks’ and devotees’ patriotism and devotion to Buddhism. A stone lion sits guard on each side of the temple gate, heads raised and eyes fixed, like loyal sentinels protecting the sacred site. The mountain gate hall consists of three rooms, featuring a flush-gable roof with a front corridor. The bracket sets on the eaves are of the one-bracket-three-step type, with cloud-shaped carvings. Beneath the corridor eaves are murals depicting the story of the Buddha’s renunciation. At the center of the corridor hangs a large plaque inscribed with “Reclining Buddha Temple,” written by Zhao Yuan, chairman of the Provincial Buddhist Association. Inside the gate hall are carved statues of two celestial generals, Heng and Ha, wielding Vajra clubs.

Exiting the mountain gate hall and walking a few meters north, you’ll see a “Maitreya Pavilion.” Inside, Maitreya is sculpted on the south side and Skanda on the north, both crafted from sandalwood and gilded. The four walls are painted with images of the Four Heavenly Kings: Vaishravana, Virupaksha, Virudhaka, and Dhritarashtra.

A few meters further north from the Maitreya Pavilion, you’ll reach the cement platform in front of the Mahavira Hall. On the platform stands a stone incense burner, topped with a circular stone cover supported by four stone pillars. The rising incense coils ceaselessly, a true testament to the temple’s bustling spiritual activity despite its modest size. The south face of the incense burner is inscribed with the four large characters “Buddha’s Light Shines Everywhere.”

A few meters farther north leads into the Mahavira Hall. At the base of the northern wall is a lotus-shaped Buddha pedestal. On it lies a clay-and-gold-plated statue of Sakyamuni Buddha in parinirvana. The Buddha is lying on his right side, head to the west and feet to the east, measuring 5.70 meters in length, 1.60 meters in shoulder height, 1.10 meters in head length, and 0.75 meters in foot length, with his left hand resting gently on his thigh. With jet-black hair and a golden-hued face, his eyes slightly closed, he exudes solemn compassion. According to the trilingual (Chinese, English, and Thai) stele at Thailand’s “Reclining Buddha Temple,” “At the age of eighty, the Buddha, accompanied by Ānanda, traveled to the region of the Śāla Tree Stupa, teaching and liberating beings. In the city of Kuśinagara, between the twin sal trees, he entered parinirvana in accordance with the Dharma…” Above the Buddha statue hangs a plaque inscribed with “Attained Supreme Freedom,” suggesting the Buddha had reached the pinnacle of spiritual pursuit. To the Buddha’s left is Amitabha Buddha, and to the right is Bhaisajyaguru (Medicine Buddha). To the front-left and front-right of the Buddha hang two embroidered banners donated by devotees. To the left of the banners is the statue of Skanda, the Heavenly King Who Upholds the Realm, and to the right is Skanda. On the western side of the hall are enshrined Kṣitigarbha, Guanyin Bodhisattva, and on the west wall hangs a cloth painting of the Ten Kings of Hell—showing that while people promote virtue, they never forget to punish vice. The west wall also features three smaller Buddha statues: Mahāsthāmaprāpta, Guanyin, and Amitabha. On the eastern side are enshrined General Yue Fei and Guan Yu, with the Twenty-Four Filial Exemplars painted on the east wall. A hanging iron bell is displayed on the front-left of the Mahavira Hall, inscribed with: “Respectfully cast by the Zhao family of Shiwangzhuangzi, Jinxi County, on a lucky day in the fifth month of the fourth year of the Kangde era.”

On the east and west sides inside the temple are monk dormitories and dining quarters. Outside the east wing’s doorway stand a donation stele and two reading pavilions promoting Buddhist teachings, named “The Compassionate Voyage of Enlightenment” and “The Dharma Voice of Reclining Buddha Temple.”

Sakyamuni was born in the mid-6th century BC into the Shakya clan, with the surname Gautama. Before renouncing worldly life, he was the prince of King Śuddhodana of the Shakya Kingdom (present-day Nepal), named Siddhartha, with his mother named Maya. Having experienced all the sufferings of humanity, he resolved to free mankind from misery, renounced his royal status, and sought enlightenment. After six years of arduous searching, he attained enlightenment under the Bodhi tree and spent 45 years teaching across central India, attracting countless followers. Revered as the Buddha (the Enlightened One), Sakyamuni is the sage of the Shakya clan.

The Reclining Buddha Temple has been designated as a municipal cultural relic protection unit. Due to the uniqueness of its reclining Buddha, it is also one of Huludao’s scenic and historic sites. During the Shunzhi era of the Qing Dynasty, the scholar Zhang ??? wrote a poem titled “Ode to the Reclining Buddha Temple.”

Gazing afar at the monastic grounds, amid the vast sunset glow, Hills curve around winding waters, windows face distant mountains.

Since when has the Buddha lain here? Monks remain leisurely all day long, Dusty travelers weary of the world sigh, lamenting their fading youth.

May this ancient Reclining Buddha Temple bring true joy to the people around you.