Seven Peaks Chan Temple

Seven Peaks Chan Temple

Seven Peaks Chan Temple (also known as Seven Peaks Temple) is located at the northern foot of Seven Peaks Mountain, with a road leading directly to the temple gate. The temple has a history of over 1,200 years. According to historical records, in the first year of Emperor Dezong of the Tang Dynasty (780 AD), Master Bainuo from Qinghai obtained a piece of land the size of a monk’s robe from the mountain owner Ouyang Bigao, built a simple hut to live in, and thus laid the foundation of the temple. From the Tang Dynasty through the Five Dynasties, and spanning the Song, Yuan, Ming, Qing, and Republic of China periods up to the present, the temple has experienced several rises and declines. After the reform and opening-up, Seven Peaks Chan Temple regained its former glory, attracting throngs of visitors and enjoying flourishing incense offerings. The current Seven Peaks Chan Temple covers an area of over 60 acres, with a construction area of 1,964 square meters. The first structure is the two-story Heavenly King Hall, with the upper floor serving as a scripture depository that houses a large collection

of Buddhist scriptures and publications, serving as a place for the resident monks to study Buddhism. Further ahead lies the Mahavira Hall.

The Mahavira Hall is a grand structure. At its center stands a 1.5-meter-tall seated statue of the Buddha—Sakyamuni—flanked by his disciples Ananda and Kasyapa on either side. Adjacent to the Buddha, in smaller niches, are Samantabhadra on the left and Manjushri on the right. Behind the main Buddha niche is a standing statue of Guanyin (the Goddess of Mercy), with the young boy Sudhana on the left and the dragon girl on the right as attendants. The walls of the hall feature eighteen arhats, each uniquely sculpted and seated on their own platforms. The hall also has high-hanging bells and drums, as well as displayed chimes and wooden fish; colorful banners flutter and incense smoke wafts through the air, creating an atmosphere of solemn serenity.