Water-Moon Buddhist Temple

Water-Moon Buddhist Temple

The Water-Moon Buddhist Temple is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction and a cultural tourism destination.

History of the Water-Moon Buddhist Temple

According to the "Book of the Later Han," it is recorded: "Zhu Rong built a grand Buddhist temple in Xiapi (present-day Suining County), with golden discs piled on top and multiple stories below. The surrounding halls and pavilions could accommodate about three thousand people. He crafted gold-plated Buddha statues dressed in brocade. Every time he held a Buddha-bathing ceremony, he would prepare abundant food and drinks, laying out mats along the roads. Those who came to eat or watch numbered over ten thousand." Research materials provided by Tongji University in Shanghai confirm that the pagoda built by Zhu Rong is the "first pagoda under heaven" in Chinese history with both textual records and visual descriptions. In Huang Chanhua's "History of Chinese Buddhism," it is regarded as "the point where Buddhism began to spread among the common people." Thus, Suining is considered the birthplace of Buddhism’s transition from an "official" to a "folk" practice in China, as well as the site of the first construction of the iconic Buddhist structure, the "Futu." During the Song and Jin dynasties, the Futu Temple was destroyed in war.

As time passed through cycles of formation, duration, destruction, and emptiness, rebuilding the ancient Futu Temple—steeped in history—has long been the aspiration of the Buddhist community in Suining. After submitting applications and gaining approval from provincial and municipal religious affairs authorities, the reconstruction of the Futu Temple was finally realized. Meanwhile, due to the Phase II expansion of the factory area of Jiangsu Century Tianhong Textile Group, the Dizang Temple located within Suicheng Town in Suining County needed to be relocated. With a history of over 600 years, Dizang Temple was originally built during the Yongle era of the Ming Dynasty but was sadly reduced to ruins during the Japanese invasion of China in World War II. After the reform and opening-up period, thanks to the local government’s implementation of religious policies and the efforts of nearby Buddhists and residents, the temple was restored to its former appearance. It was decided that the reconstruction of the Futu Temple and the relocation of the Dizang Temple would take place within the Bai Tang River Provincial Wetland Park, constructing a modern and large-scale monastery. Given that the temple surroundings are water-bound and considering the Buddhist concept of causality, perfection, and imperfection symbolized by the moon—as well as the temple’s emphasis on the Water-Moon Guanyin culture—it was named the "Water-Moon Buddhist Temple."

Nestled in the serene and picturesque central area of the Bai Tang River Wetland Park, surrounded by winding paths and lush scenery, the Water-Moon Buddhist Temple occupies an ideal site for monastic construction. The temple breaks away from traditional architectural norms, reimagining the style of Chinese Buddhist architecture. While adhering to the layout conventions of Buddhist halls, it incorporates modern architectural elements, harmoniously blending Buddhist teachings of enlightenment, purification, and blessings with a design philosophy that embodies simplicity and clarity. The construction of the Water-Moon Buddhist Temple centers around the planning concept of "harmonizing with wind and water, classical layout; minimalist architecture, Zen-inspired space." Its unique architectural style challenges conventional perceptions of Buddhist structures. The design achieves a perfect integration of Buddhist elements and architectural artistry, employing distinctive expression techniques, more rational functionality, and optimized layouts. This results in a seamless fusion of Buddhist symbolism and modern architectural art, creating a uniquely innovative space for Buddhist activities in China.

The temple complex is grand in scale and was completed in October 2013. In November 2013, an additional Water-Moon Square covering approximately 8,000 square meters was constructed in front of the temple and completed in March 2014. At the center of the square stands a 9.8-meter-tall statue of the Water-Moon Guanyin, which enhances the spiritual ambiance and grandeur of the square, further supporting the dissemination of Buddhist teachings.

Source: Jiangsu Provincial Forestry Bureau