Buddhist Culture and Art Museum

Buddhist Culture and Art Museum

The main first floor of the Buddhist Culture and Art Museum — the Hall of Ten Thousand Buddhas — houses 9,999 small golden tripod Buddha statues that share the same furnace, water, essence, and radiance as the Golden Tripod Grand Buddha. Together with the Grand Buddha, there are a total of 10,000 Buddha statues, hence the name "Hall of Ten Thousand Buddhas." There are four entrances to the Hall, each adorned with six statues, totaling 24, collectively known as the Twenty-Four Heavenly Guardians, who are the twenty-four protective deities in Buddhism. At the very center of the Hall is enshrined the Manifested Body Buddha of Shakyamuni — the Flower-Opening Revealing Buddha, symbolizing the compassionate form that appears to teach and liberate all sentient beings according to their karma. At specific times, the lotus petals slowly open to reveal the four-faced Dharma body of Shakyamuni, who attained enlightenment under the Bodhi tree, presenting himself to all and imparting wisdom and enlightenment. On the walls surrounding the Flower-Opening Revealing Buddha are placed the Four Pure Lands: the Eastern Land of Utmost Joy (symbolizing the eradication of afflictions and attainment of enlightenment), the Southern Land of Bliss (representing the fulfillment of all wishes and accumulation of merit), the Western Pure Land of Bliss (symbolizing peace and purity), and the Northern Land of Lotus (representing the achievement of wisdom and merit). At each of the four entrances to the Flower-Opening Revealing Buddha are placed two statues, totaling eight, collectively known as the Eight Divinities of Heaven and Dragon. Behind the Four Pure Lands are placed the Four Great Bodhisattvas: the Vajra Holder Bodhisattva (symbolizing disaster elimination and demon subjugation, possessing authority and fulfilling all wishes, leading to rebirth in the Pure Land), the Jewel Holder Bodhisattva (symbolizing the fulfillment of all desires and a life of contentment), the Guanyin Bodhisattva (symbolizing the relief of suffering and bestowal of joy, a life of wisdom, combining aspiration and action, and boundless merit), and the All-Hands Bodhisattva (symbolizing the removal of obstacles and purification, growth of good roots, elimination of enemies, and fulfillment of joyful wishes). Around the Hall of Ten Thousand Buddhas are enshrined the Four Worldly Buddhas: Kuntuzangpo Buddha (symbolizing the revelation of ultimate truth, tranquility, and unobstructed wisdom), Kashyapa Buddha (symbolizing radiant glory illuminating all), Vipashyin Buddha (symbolizing the fullness of wisdom like the full moon and superior insight), and Maitreya Buddha (symbolizing loving-kindness, joy, and merit, bringing happiness to all directions, enlightenment in action, and supreme bliss).

The second floor of the Buddhist Culture and Art Museum is the Guest Hall. What we see here is the Sambhogakaya Buddha of Shakyamuni — the Vairocana Buddha, also known as Locana Buddha. The name Locana is actually an abbreviation of the Dharmakaya "Vairocana." When naming this Buddha, Shakyamuni combined his Sambhogakaya and Dharmakaya into one name, signifying the inseparability of the Dharmakaya and Sambhogakaya. The Sambhogakaya is the reward body that a Buddha attains through karmic retribution from spiritual practice, representing the manifestation of perfect cultivation and supreme enlightenment.

The third floor of the Buddhist Culture and Art Museum is the Merit Hall. At its center sits the Dharmakaya Buddha of Shakyamuni — Vairocana Buddha, known in Chinese as the Great Sun Tathagata, who is the supreme deity in Esoteric Buddhism. All Buddhas and Bodhisattvas in Esoteric Buddhism originate from the Great Sun Tathagata, making Him the fundamental Buddha of the Esoteric Buddhist realm. The Great Sun Tathagata is the Dharma body that illuminates all things in the universe without obstruction. Possessing all virtues and boundless wisdom, His light shines everywhere, regardless of day or night, benefiting all sentient and non-sentient beings in both the worldly and transcendent realms, awakening the Buddha-nature within them and enabling them to achieve inconceivable accomplishments. The Great Sun Tathagata symbolizes light, wisdom, and rationality. Worshipping Him offers protection, brings illumination and wisdom, wards off evil, connects one with the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, and draws the essence of all things. It empowers one to move forward bravely with joy and radiance.

Liuding Mountain Cultural Tourism Area

Dunhua Zhengjue Temple

Dunhua Jade Buddha Garden

Sea East Eagle

Ancient Tomb Complex of the Bohai Kingdom

Sacred Lotus Pond

Ancestral Shrine of the Qing Founders

Golden Tripod Great Buddha