Man Duan Buddhist Temple

Man Duan Buddhist Temple

Man Duan Buddhist Temple is a national key cultural relics protection unit.

Man Duan Buddhist Temple

Man Duan Buddhist Temple, located on the Kunluo Highway to the southwest of Menghai County, is about 10 kilometers from the county town. It serves as a center for religious and cultural activities for the local Dai people. The temple is called "Wala Zhatan" in the Dai language.

Historical records indicate that the temple was first built in 950 AD, making it 1,049 years old to date, and is one of the earliest Buddhist temples constructed after the introduction of Theravada Buddhism. The temple complex consists of a main hall, ordination hall, monk’s quarters, stupa, and an octagonal pavilion known as "Wosu." The main hall is four bays wide, approximately 10 meters, and eight bays deep, around 18 meters in length. The structure features a combination of beam and bracket construction, with a double-eaved hip-and-gable roof, both upper and lower eaves having five sloping sides. The floor plan avoids the use of perimeter columns, with side eaves supported by wall-lifted beams. Diagonal bracing is installed between the walls and eaves. Carvings of dragons, phoenixes, and floral patterns adorn the interior and exterior components, rendered in vivid and archaic styles. The architectural form and decorative artistry of Man Duan Buddhist Temple embody the essence of ancient Dai construction techniques and historical culture.

Since 1994, local residents have developed the temple into a tourist attraction, offering Dai-style barbecued food as the main attraction, along with other travel souvenirs. It attracts thousands of domestic and international visitors daily who come to sightsee and sample ethnic barbecue.

Mann Village: Mann Village is an administrative village under Mengzhe Town, Menghai County. It is located southeast of Mengzhe Town, about 14 kilometers from the town government, with paved roads leading to it, making transportation convenient. It is 10 kilometers from the county town. To the east lies Menghai Town, to the south is Menghun Town, to the west is the Mannong Village Committee, and to the north is the Jingzhen Village Committee. The village administers 14 villager groups including Mann, Mangang, and Manduan. It currently has 1,188 households, with a rural population of 5,958, all of whom are engaged in agriculture. The labor force numbers 4,064, of which 2,616 are employed in primary industries.

December 31, 2019…… Mann Village detailed information++

Further Reading:

· Sixth Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units