Ancestral Seal Temple

Ancestral Seal Temple

Ancestral Seal Temple is a cultural tourism attraction.

Ancestral Seal Temple is located in the city center of Zhoushan, Zhejiang Province, and is a key cultural relic protection unit of the city. Historical records indicate that the temple was originally situated on Qushan Island, formerly known as “Penglai Monastery,” and was established in the fifth year of the Tianfu era during the Later Jin Dynasty (940 AD), boasting a history of over a thousand years. During the Song Dynasty’s Zhiping era, it was granted its current name and renamed “Ancestral Seal.” In the JiXi era, the county magistrate Yu Gui relocated the temple to its present site and merged it with the former Putuo Mountain Reception Monastery. During the Yuan Dynasty’s Yuán era, the eminent monk Shanning propagated Buddhist teachings at Ancestral Seal, followed by the abbot Mian’an, who promoted Chan (Zen) Buddhism, greatly enhancing the temple’s reputation and drawing flourishing incense offerings. The temple has been destroyed and rebuilt multiple times: it was abandoned along with the county at the beginning of the Ming Dynasty, interrupting its religious activities; it was rebuilt during the Xuande era but was destroyed by fire again in the Zhengtong era; and was reconstructed once more in the Chenghua era. In the early Qing Dynasty, when island residents were relocated inland and the city walls were razed, the temple buildings were also devastated in the warfare, leaving no roof tiles or wooden beams standing except for the Mahavira Hall, which remained intact, regarded by locals as a miraculous event. During the Kangxi era, Lan Li, the military commander of Dinghai, raised funds for restoration; in the Tongzhi era, the abbot monk Yunxiu raised funds for expansion; and in the Xuantong era, the local resident Zhu Baosan donated money for another major repair. The existing structures include the mountain gate, the Heavenly King Hall, the Mahavira Hall, the rear hall, the bell tower, and the east and west wing rooms, covering a total floor area of 2,300 square meters and a site area of over 5,000 square meters. Except for the main mountain gate, which was rebuilt in recent years, the rest are Qing Dynasty architecture.

In May 1950, the temple was temporarily used as a national grain storage facility. Although religious activities were suspended, the temple survived. In 1986, the government spent nearly 500,000 yuan to relocate the grain storage and renovate the temple buildings, restoring its appearance and repurposing it as the city museum. In 1994, the government moved the museum elsewhere, allowing the temple to restore its Buddha statues and reopen for religious activities. In June of that year, the 74-year-old Master Huatong from Ningbo’s Ashoka Temple was invited to serve as the abbot. After three years of arduous renovation, the temple buildings were completely renewed. Newly crafted statues including the Eighteen Arhats, Five Hundred Arhats, Manjushri, Samantabhadra, Ksitigarbha, Guanyin, Maitreya, and Skanda were majestic, solemn, and lifelike. Among the most distinctive cultural relics and Buddhist artworks are: first, the Ancestral Seal Treasure Tripod, symbolizing the temple’s flourishing incense offerings, standing 3.4 meters tall and weighing 1.5 tons; second, the jade Guanyin statue brought from Myanmar in 1995, standing 2.2 meters tall and weighing over 2 tons, featuring exquisite jade quality, fine carving craftsmanship, and a dignified and graceful form, currently enshrined in the rear hall; third, the architectural artistry and sculptures of the Mahavira Hall. The Mahavira Hall is 17.5 meters high, 19 meters deep, and 29.6 meters wide, with a total floor area of 564 square meters. It features a double-eaved hip-and-gable roof, with nine-color bracket sets on the upper eave and a five-rafter raised-beam structure, showcasing exquisite and refined architectural art. The hall enshrines the statues of the Three Ages of Buddhas. At the center is Sakyamuni Buddha, flanked by disciples Kaśyapa and Ānanda. Along the walls on the east and west sides are statues of the Eighteen Arhats and Five Hundred Arhats.

Address: No. 98, Changguo Road, Dinghai District, Zhoushan City, Zhejiang Province

Type: Temple

Recommended visiting time: 1–2 hours

Phone: 0580-2031004

Opening hours:

8:30-20:00