Dunhua Zhengjue Temple

Dunhua Zhengjue Temple

Dunhua Zhengjue Temple is a cultural tourism attraction.

Zhengjue Temple is located in the Liuding Mountain Scenic Area on the southern outskirts of Dunhua City, approximately 4 kilometers from the city center. It was restored and rebuilt in 1993 by the temple’s third-generation lineage holder, the American-based eminent monk Master Shifoxing. Covering a total area of nearly 90,000 square meters, it is one of the largest temples in China and the world’s biggest nunnery.

The temple complex is divided into three sections: the worship hall area, the living quarters, and the Buddhist academy. Along the central axis, five double-eaved main halls — the Mountain Gate Hall, the Heavenly King Hall, the Mahavira Hall, the Guanyin Hall, and the Scripture Depository Hall — rise progressively along the mountain slope. Bell and drum towers complement the ornamental archway gate, all set against a backdrop of green mountains, clear waters, blue skies, and white clouds, with red walls, yellow tiles, and overlapping pavilions.

Among them, the Mahavira Hall has a floor area of 1,200 square meters and stands atop a three-tiered enclosed terrace adorned with a nine-dragon carved bluestone imperial path.

Inside the hall, three camphorwood Buddha statues each standing 12.5 meters tall, as well as ceramic murals depicting the enlightenment of Sakyamuni crafted in Jingdezhen, eight white marble dragon-pillar columns, Yunnan Jianchuan nanmu wood-carved partition doors, and an exquisitely decorated caisson ceiling are all masterpieces of temple architecture.

The hexagonal six-pavilion Guanyin Hall is particularly unique. Within the hall, a six-faced, six-thousand-armed-and-eyed Guanyin statue covered with 6.6 kilograms of pure gold leaf is a one-of-a-kind artistic masterpiece in the world. Exquisite stone carvings, wood carvings, painted decorations, and calligraphy works by renowned figures such as Zhao Puchu all add brilliance to the temple. Villa-style Western-style buildings complement the traditional Chinese architecture of the main hall area, harmonizing with the lake and mountain scenery, the sound of bells and chanting, reflecting Master Shifoxing’s character and spirit of integrating Eastern and Western cultures after spreading Buddhism in the Americas.

Zhengjue Temple is not only a masterpiece of religious culture but also an exemplary fusion of ancient and modern architecture. It is a group of highly realistic antique-style buildings constructed using modern materials and architectural techniques. Therefore, it is also an artistic gem where modern scientific materials are applied to classical-style architecture. The inscriptions “A New Sacred Realm” and “Radiance from the Rolling Hills,” both penned by Mr. Ji Xianlin, perfectly capture the essence of the temple.

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