Western Pure Land Monastery

Western Pure Land Monastery

Western Pure Land Monastery is located on the coast south of Chaoyin Cave on Mount Putuo in Zhoushan, Zhejiang Province. There is a nunnery called "Western Nunnery," with the four characters "西方净苑" (Western Pure Land Monastery) inscribed on its plaque. The monastery follows the Linji school of Buddhism. It was initially established by Master Fusheng. The current structures, including the Heavenly King Hall and the Mahavira Hall, were built in recent years by Master Miaoshan. Inside the temple is a piece of rock known as Guanyin's Leap Stone.

The west wing of the Western Nunnery is the "Memorial Hall of Master Huizhe," dedicated to the Japanese monk Huizhe. Here, a statue of Master Huizhe and bronze statues of the main deities of the 33 Guanyin sacred sites in Japan are enshrined. The nunnery features an elegant small garden with a Seven Treasures Lotus Pond and a white jade arched bridge, creating a serene and refined atmosphere. As the Western Nunnery is a specialized Pure Land Buddhist monastery on the mountain, it has a chanting hall where incense smoke lingers all day and Buddhist chants never cease, inspiring visitors toward Buddhist devotion.

Western Pure Land Monastery, originally named Western Nunnery, is situated on Guanyin’s Leap in the southeastern part of Mount Putuo in Zhoushan, Zhejiang Province, with the bronze statue of Guanyin of the South Sea to its western foothills. It was founded during the late Qing and early Republican period by Monk Fusheng. In 1920 (the ninth year of the Republic of China), it was destroyed by fire. Monk Fusheng, undeterred by hardship, raised funds to rebuild it. In the early years after liberation, Monks Kai Xian, Wu Zhi, and Chi Lian resided there. After 1960, the nunnery was abandoned, later collapsed due to wind, and the remaining structures were demolished during the Cultural Revolution. In 1991, the Mount Putuo Buddhist Association rebuilt it, completing the project by mid-1993 and renaming it "Western Pure Land Monastery." The monastery consists of two main halls: the first is the Heavenly King Hall, housing uniquely styled standing statues of the Four Heavenly Kings made of Japanese-style white marble. The second is the Yuantong Treasure Hall, which features four white marble statues of Guanyin seated in the center, flanked by exquisitely crafted white jade eighteen arhats. The east side houses a guest building, while the west building includes the "Memorial Hall of Master Huizhe" and the "Fragrant Light Pavilion." The courtyard west of the main hall is tranquil and includes a chanting hall with a floor paved with colorful lotus-patterned glass. In the center of the hall stands a 2.2-meter-tall statue of Amitabha Buddha. Outside the hall lies a Seven Treasures Lotus Pond, connected by a delicate white jade arched bridge with carved railings. To the southwest, a corridor displays four large stone and jade relief carvings of the Twenty-Four Views Sutra. With its continuous incense offerings and unbroken Buddhist chants, it serves as a dedicated Pure Land practice site on the mountain. The monastery has 107 halls, covering a construction area of 2,902.89 square meters, and is maintained by monks.

Address: No. 201, Zhuzhi Road, Mount Putuo Scenic Area, Putuo District, Zhoushan City (next to the Unwilling-to-Go Guanyin Temple)

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Type: Temple

Recommended visiting time: 30–60 minutes

Opening hours:

Open all day

Admission:

Admission: 2 RMB