The Small Temple of Cele

The Small Temple of Cele

The Small Temple of Cele is a cultural tourism attraction.

The ruins of the Small Temple in Damagou Township, Cele County were discovered in March 2000 by a shepherd boy. Covering an area of just 4 square meters, it is the smallest Buddhist temple ever found in the world to date. The temple faces south, and inside there is a Buddha seated on a lotus base facing north. The Buddha’s head and hands are missing, but the walls are adorned with exquisite murals. Judging from the carving technique of the statue, it is believed to be a relic from the Northern and Southern Dynasties, dating back 1,500–1,800 years. Surrounding this small temple is a large complex of other temples. Among the artifacts unearthed here was a thousand-armed Guanyin holding a ritual implement decorated with a mouse pattern — the first such discovery in the world that confirms the legend of “universal worship of the Rat King.” Its excavation was listed by the archaeological community as one of China’s seven major archaeological discoveries in 2005. Nearby, a second small temple (Temple No. 2) has also been discovered, yielding many finely crafted murals and Buddha heads. These findings corroborate the records about the ancient Kingdom of Khotan described in Xuanzang’s Great Tang Records of the Western Regions. Xinjiang Television produced a special feature titled “Scenes of Cele,” and China Central Television featured the site in its documentary “The New Silk Road.” The site holds significant archaeological and academic value and is currently being nominated as a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit, with great potential for future development.