Shuanglin Grottoes

Shuanglin Grottoes

The main hall houses a reclining Buddha, the largest of its kind in contemporary cave Buddhas. It complements the 1,500-year-old "Number One Buddha of the Jiangnan Region" (the Stone Maitreya Buddha) and the outdoor Great Buddha of Mount Fo, allowing visitors to appreciate exquisite grotto art while being inspired by Buddhism, purify their souls, and contemplate the true meaning of life. Int

roduction

Shuanglin Grottoes is a newly developed attraction in the Dafo Temple Scenic Area, following the Open-air Maitreya, Prajna Valley, and Dinosaur Park. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, this site was once a quarry. Later, walkways were built, tunnels were carved, and the Buddha was shaped from the mountain, resulting in the largest cave space and the largest reclining Buddha created to date.

The Reclining Buddha Hall has now become another Buddhist cultural-themed tourist destination after the "Number One Buddha of the Jiangnan Region," adding luster to the "Dunhuang of the Yue Kingdom," Dafo Temple.

300 meters from the entrance of Dafo Temple, on the left, you will first see the Shuanglin Grottoes stele. Past the stele is Mingjing Lake. Ascend 200 stone steps on the left, pass through a winding and serene cave, and you will arrive at the front of the hall.

The hall gate is divided into seven sections, majestic and solemn, with a single-eave double-cantilevered roof, intricate brackets, and well-proportioned design in the style of Tang Dynasty architecture. The left and right cliff walls feature 7-meter-tall statues of the Gate Guardians (Heng and Ha), carved in relief, grand in scale and imposing in presence.

Entering the archway leads to the front hall, where the left and right caves house the Bodhisattvas Manjushri and Samantabhadra. Manjushri rides a blue lion, symbolizing fierceness, holding a sutra scroll. As the Buddha’s foremost disciple, he excels in wisdom and eloquence, assisting the Buddha in spreading the Dharma and ranking first among all bodhisattvas. Worshipping Manjushri can dispel ignorance, cultivate wisdom, and enlighten the mind. Samantabhadra sits atop a six-tusked white elephant, symbolizing serenity and divine power, representing truth. The heads of the blue lion and white elephant both face outward, signifying the protection of the Dharma.

Entering the main hall, one is greeted by an atmosphere of serenity and sanctity. The main hall is also a grotto, 23 meters deep and 48 meters wide, where a reclining Buddha was carved from the existing mountain. The Buddha lies peacefully atop a Sumeru lotus pedestal, with a body length of 37 meters and a height of 9 meters.

The image of the reclining Buddha was inspired by the Buddhas of Dunhuang, Longmen, and the Tian Tan Buddha. From the hair to the facial features, from each fold of the robe to the angle of the hands and feet, the design was refined through multiple discussions and revisions by top domestic experts and eminent monks before the final plan was settled.