Ancient Architectural Complex of the Thousand-Buddha Pavilion

Ancient Architectural Complex of the Thousand-Buddha Pavilion

The Ancient Architectural Complex of the Thousand-Buddha Pavilion is a cultural relic protection unit of Shandong Province.

The Ancient Architectural Complex of the Thousand-Buddha Pavilion is located at No. 1 Xinjian Middle Road, Zhoucun District, on the site of the former commercial center. It is bordered by the Zhuo River to the west, the main street to the east, Xinjian Road to the south, and Shunhe Street to the north. The key protected area covers approximately 5,000 square meters and consists of six main halls: the Thousand-Buddha Pavilion, the Guan Di Shrine, the Three Brothers Hall, the Arhat Hall, the Maitreya Hall, and the Guanyin Hall. It is currently the most intact and largest ancient religious architectural complex in Zhoucun.

The main structure of the Ancient Architectural Complex of the Thousand-Buddha Pavilion, the Thousand-Buddha Pavilion, was originally built during the Tang Dynasty and expanded over successive dynasties. After the mid-Qing Dynasty, it underwent multiple renovations. The Thousand-Buddha Pavilion is the principal building of the temple complex. Constructed in the 15th year of the Chongzhen reign of the Ming Dynasty (1642 AD), it has two stories, ten rooms, is 18.8 meters long, 8.26 meters wide, and 15.1 meters high. It faces south with a northern orientation, features a stone base and brick body, double eaves with flying rafters, and is roofed with golden glazed tiles. The structure is richly decorated with carved beams and painted rafters, giving it a magnificent appearance. Countless niches on the walls of the pavilion house Buddha statues in various forms, and due to their large number, it is called the “Thousand-Buddha Pavilion.”

In February 1947, Commander Chen Yi used this site as a temporary command post, giving it dual cultural relic protection value. The Guan Di Shrine was first built in the 4th year of the Kangxi reign of the Qing Dynasty (1665 AD), renovated in the 34th year of Kangxi (1695 AD), when its scale was expanded and the Three Brothers Hall was added. The Arhat Hall was completed in the 50th year of the Qianlong reign (1785 AD).

The Ancient Architectural Complex of the Thousand-Buddha Pavilion features a well-arranged layout of pavilions and halls, providing valuable physical material for the study of China’s religious culture, ancient commercial culture, and the economic development of central and northern Shandong.

It was designated as a municipal-level key cultural relic protection unit in 1984 and as a provincial-level key cultural relic protection unit in 2006.

Further Reading:

· Third Batch of Shandong Provincial Cultural Relic Protection Units