Xilin Temple

Xilin Temple

Xilin Temple is a cultural tourism attraction.

Xilin Temple is located at No. 666 Zhongshan Middle Road, Songjiang District, Shanghai. Originally named "Xilin Jingshe," it was first built by Hu Zeng in the 13th year of the Xiantong era of the Tang Dynasty (872 AD). It was expanded during the Southern Song Dynasty by Monk Rui in the first year of the Xianchun era (1265 AD) and renamed Yunjian Jiedai Yu (also known as Yunjian Jiedai Yuan), covering tens of acres at the time. A pagoda named "Chong'en Pagoda" was built in front of the temple, forming a typical Buddhist architectural complex of temple and pagoda combined. To the west of the temple, there was originally the Tingtingting Pavilion built by Hu Zeng during the Tang Dynasty's Xiantong era, serving as an ideal spot for seeing off or welcoming guests.

The local gazetteer records: "Xilin Temple was originally located north of Qingyun Bridge (commonly known as Taoxing Bridge) in the prefectural city, with a seven-story, octagonal pagoda built in front of the temple." The temple originally had a Mahavira Hall as tall as three stories, housing three large Buddha statues. There was also a large bell that, when rung for morning and evening ceremonies, could be heard for miles, with its lingering sound echoing among the Three Maos and Nine Peaks. "The 108 tolls of the bell awaken worldly dreams; the 5,000 scriptures of wisdom reflect the secrets of Zen." To the east of the pagoda, there were originally two towering podocarpus trees said to have been planted by Monk Rui Yuanying during the Song Dynasty’s expansion of the temple. Beside the trees was the "Shuangsong Jingshe," resembling a solemn Buddhist sanctuary. It is said that this area was once a mysterious land where, every autumn evening after the rain cleared, a stretch of forest would bathe in golden sunlight, with layers of trees gilded in radiant beauty. The ponds were full of water caltrop and lotus leaves, with raindrops rolling on them, sparkling under the golden light. Among the woods and peaks of the Three Maos and Nine Peaks, only this cluster of trees outside the west gate of the prefectural city saw many divine eagles soaring here at this time each year. The Huating poet Xu Shang of the Southern Song Dynasty witnessed this and composed a poem titled "Xilin" in its praise: "After the rain clears beyond the woods, slanting sunlight fills the lotus and water chestnut. Often pointing to the sacred vulture, the path ahead is not far." This poem was once inscribed in stone within the temple, becoming a footnote to Monk Rui’s expansion efforts and the reason for the temple being renamed Xilin.

During the Yuan Dynasty, a magnitude 7 earthquake struck Songjiang, causing the collapse of the three pagodas of Puzhao, Chaoguo, and Xilin. Only the Xingsheng Pagoda remained standing. Later, due to warfare, both the temple and the pagodas collapsed. In the 20th year of the Hongwu era of the Ming Dynasty (1387 AD), then-abbot Monk Chunhou rebuilt the temple and the pagoda, renaming the temple "Xilin Temple" and the pagoda "Yuan Ying Pagoda" in honor of Monk Rui Yuanying, who expanded the Yunjian Jiedai Yuan during the Southern Song Dynasty. At its peak, the temple housed over 600 monks. Later, due to the tilting of the Yuan Ying Pagoda, during the Zhengtong era (1436–1449), Chunhou’s disciple’s disciple Fa (…) renovated the pagoda and moved it behind the main hall. The sacred relics of Master Yuan Ying, the founder of the pagoda, were enshrined as the temple’s most precious treasure. In the third year of the Jingtai era (1452), the Pilu Hall was built behind the pagoda. It was completed in the third year of the Tianshun era (1459), featuring triple eaves, standing ten zhang tall, six zhang deep, and over ten zhang wide. The hall enshrined the Dharma Body Buddha — Vairocana Buddha, with the Twelve Great Enlightened Beings on the west side, the Ten Directions’ Buddhas on the back wall, and Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva below. Emperor Daizong sent an envoy to bestow a plaque inscribed with "Buddha’s Light Increases Brilliance," which hung prominently behind the pagoda. … (Text truncated for clarity)

Xilin Temple follows the Linji school of Chan Buddhism. During the Ming Dynasty, the main axis of the temple complex included the Mountain Gate, Heavenly King Hall, Pagoda, Main Hall, Chen Hall, Jieshe Hall, and other auxiliary structures. In the 17th year of the Shunzhi era (1660 AD), Monk Chengxing renovated the temple. In the 20th year of the Kangxi era (1681 AD), General Yang Jie donated funds to renovate the Main Hall and Mountain Gate. In the 32nd year of the Qianlong era (1767 AD), Monk Foming raised funds for further repairs. In the third year of the Jiaqing era (1798 AD), Monk Ju Chuan renovated the collapsed Chen Hall. In the sixth year of the Jiaqing era (1801 AD), it was completed. In the sixth year of the Jiaqing era (1806 AD), Abbot Jiting finished the construction work. In the 17th year of the Jiaqing era (1812 AD), Abbot Huiliang rebuilt the Mountain Gate, and Chen Yanzhen wrote the "Record of Rebuilding the Mountain Gate," which was engraved in stone. During the Daoguang era of the Qing Dynasty (1821–1850), the temple was renovated again. In the 18th year of the Guangxu era (1892 AD), local devotee Shen Kui funded the renovation of the Yuan Ying Pagoda. The following year, the Chen Hall was also repaired. … (Text truncated for clarity)

During the Republican era, the old appearance of Xilin Temple remained unchanged. In the 22nd year of the Republic of China (1930 AD), Wang Yiting visited Xilin and, through reasoned argument, reclaimed the western monastic quarters occupied by the Nationalist troops, meeting with the abbot of Yuanlin and the president of the Buddhist Association, Ding Yuexin. After the victory in the War of Resistance, in July of the 35th year of the Republic of China (1946 AD), Abbot Xinrong initiated efforts to renovate Xilin Temple, but the project was not completed due to the war. After the liberation, monks such as Xinrong and Benxue returned to lay life. In 1959, the Chen Hall and other parts were dismantled. In 1963, after a student fell to their death while climbing the pagoda, the waist eaves and balconies of Xilin Pagoda were completely removed.

On November 15, 1986, the Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Religious Affairs and the People’s Government of Songjiang County approved the reopening of Xilin Temple, with Abbot Xueming as its head. After Abbot Xueming passed away in 1991, Venerable Xingxiu from Longhua Temple was invited to serve as the new abbot. In 1992, Venerable Xingxiu was officially enthroned in a ceremony presided over by Vice President of the Buddhist Association of China and Honorary President of the Shanghai Buddhist Association, Master Ming?, and President of the Buddhist Association of China and Shanghai Buddhist Association, Master Zhenchan. In recent years, Xilin Temple has renovated the Mahavira Hall, reconstructed the Buddha statues, and gilded them.

In October 1993, the Shanghai Cultural Relics Management Committee allocated substantial funds for the renovation of Xilin Pagoda. On November 19 of the same year, over 700 precious artifacts were unearthed from the treasure bottle atop the spire, including gold-plated small Buddha statues, scriptures, jade Buddha statues, and valuable jade bracelets from the Liangzhu Culture period. On December 15, more items were found in the heavenly palace at the top of the pagoda, and on January 25, 1994, artifacts were excavated from the underground palace at the base of the pagoda. On the fifth day of the first lunar month in the 2539th year of the Buddhist calendar (February 4, 1995), Abbot Xingxiu welcomed the ancestral relics of Yuan Ying Temple back to the temple with a grand ceremony, placing them once again in the Yuan Ying Pagoda. The "Record of Enshrining the Relics," written by lay devotee Jin Yingzi, is permanently stored in the heavenly palace of the pagoda.

At the beginning of the new century, with the large-scale development and construction of downtown Songjiang, Xilin Temple gained a great opportunity for growth. The road in front of the temple was widened. Under the leadership of Venerable Xingxiu, a new Mountain Gate, Bell Tower, and Drum Tower were built. With the enduring light of Buddha and the support of devotees, and thanks to the attention of the municipal and district governments, the temple was able to develop within the renovation plan of Zhongshan Middle Road and acquired land to the west. The district government also allocated roads and buildings in the northeast corner of Xilin Temple to the temple as permanent property. Xilin Temple is now expanding according to a comprehensive plan, constructing the Manjushri Hall, Samantabhadra Hall, Three Saints Hall, Medicine Buddha Hall, East and West Side Halls, Chanting Hall, Meditation Hall, Scripture Depository, Abbot’s Quarters, Dining Hall, Library, Exhibition Room, and other auxiliary halls. Once completed, Xilin Temple will serve as an important venue for practitioners from all directions to study, listen to teachings, meditate, chant, and cultivate talent.

Transportation

Address: Xita Lane, Zhongshan Middle Road, Songjiang District, Shanghai (on Huating Old Street, close to Songjiang Mosque)

: Songjiang Route 1 reaches Huating Old Street; take the Songmei Special Line (Songjiang–Southwest Bus Station, Meilong), Hu-Song Special Line, etc., to get to Songjiang Ledu Road Bus Station, then transfer to Songjiang Route 2 to reach Huating Old Street; take the train (Huhang Line) and at the train station, take Songjiang Routes 5, 8, or 9 to reach Huating Old Street; at the East Bus Station, take Songjiang Routes 2 or 11 to reach Huating Old Street.

Self-driving route: Inner Ring Elevated Road – Hu’min Elevated Road – Xinzhuang Interchange – G60 Shanghai–Kunming Expressway – Songjiang Exit – Rongle Middle Road – Renmin North Road – Zhongshan Middle Road (Huating Old Street).

Ticket

10 RMB

Opening Hours

9:00-17:00