Wuxi Kaiyuan Temple

Wuxi Kaiyuan Temple

Wuxi Kaiyuan Temple is a cultural tourism attraction.

Kaiyuan Temple is located between Hushan and Poshan in Meiyuan, Wuxi City, Jiangsu Province. It is said to have been originally built during the Tang Dynasty, though this cannot be confirmed. In 1936, Chong Desheng donated over one hundred thousand yuan, and Monk Liangru from Guangfu Temple on Yuanduzhou assisted in the construction of Kaiyuan Temple, which was later destroyed. Restoration began in 1983, with the reconstruction and renovation of the Heavenly King Hall, Mahavira Hall, Pilu Hall, Jade Buddha Building, Scripture Depository, Chanting Hall, Bell Tower, Drum Tower, Guanyin Hall, Ksitigarbha Hall, monastic quarters, and Liberation Pond. In 1991, during the Double Ninth Festival, the Jade Buddha Building was completed, marking the near-final stage of the temple’s restoration. With the Three Jewels now in place, it became a solemn and magnificent Buddhist sanctuary.

The Maitreya Buddha in the Heavenly King Hall of Kaiyuan Temple is a gilded copper statue weighing five tons, standing twenty-five meters tall with a diameter of one hundred and sixty-four meters. It was a gift from the Thailand-China Friendship Association and enshrined in the temple in October 1985. The "Pingfeng" Bell Tower and its suspended bronze bell were donated by Hiroshi Hasegawa, President of the Akashi City Japan-China Friendship Association, and Monk Monsai of Gettouzan Gesshinji Temple on Mashan. The bell stands twenty-four meters high, has a diameter of thirteen meters, and weighs three hundred and sixty-six tons. Its body is inscribed with dedicatory verses by Zhao Puchu and Monk Monsai. The Jade Buddha Hall houses a reclining jade Buddha, twelve feet long and weighing sixty-four tons, which was purchased in Myanmar by American-Chinese Monk Shouzhi and gifted to Kaiyuan Temple. It was welcomed into the temple in September 1989. The temple also features twenty stone steles, including the "Merit Roll Stele," "Jade Buddha Building Origin Stele," and "Diamond Sutra Stele."

On New Year's Day 1986, Japanese friends including Hiroshi Hasegawa formed a Japanese New Year Visit Group to tour Kaiyuan Temple. The Mayor of Wuxi and religious figures attended the completion ceremony of the Pingfeng Bell. Monk Longxian struck the bell one hundred and eight times and loudly expressed gratitude to the guests: “May the sound of the bell carry ten thousand miles, and may the compassionate voice of Shakyamuni Buddha reach every corner of China and Japan without end. May the friendship between China and Japan be passed down from generation to generation.”