Shuanglin Temple in Yiwu

　　Shuanglin Temple is situated at Luohantang in Foutai Town, Yiwu City, Zhejiang Province. It is famous for being sited by Bodhidharma, commissioned by Emperor Wu of Liang, and founded by the Bodhisattva Zhidun (520 AD). Its fame grew even more due to the patronage of hundreds of imperial ministers from the Chen and Sui dynasties, as well as imperial letters of commendation issued by Emperors Wen and Yang to encourage disciples such as Huize. Historically, Shuanglin Temple boasted an unprecedented scale and received lavish support from emperors and nobles, far surpassing that of most temples. During the Northern Song Dynasty, it still housed 1,200 monk rooms and over 200 monks and nuns. Since its establishment in the Chen era, its prosperity reached even greater heights, earning it titles such as “the Third Best in the World, First in Jiangsu and Zhejiang,” and “The Grand Temple of Eastern Zhejiang.” In the Song Dynasty, it was also listed as one of the “Five Mountains and Ten Temples of the Buddhist World.” In the third year of Emperor Yingzong's reign during the Zhiping era, the emperor bestowed upon it the plaque “Baolin Chan Temple,” and in the second year of Emperor Huizong's Daguan era, ten hectares of land were granted.

　　Shuanglin Temple has repeatedly suffered disasters but has always revived, with its incense never extinguished. After centuries of flourishing, it was finally destroyed in the third year of Emperor Huizong’s Xuanhe era when the Qiao Rebellion broke out. The temple was ravaged by fire, “tragically reduced to ashes, not a single rafter left standing.” In the second year of Emperor Gaozong’s Shaoxing era, descendants of the Zhuan family took the lead in raising funds for reconstruction, collecting over one hundred thousand coins. “Construction began in the spring of that year and was completed in the winter of the third year. The main hall stood eighty feet tall, with a width one and a half times that, magnificent and splendid, towering above the clouds.” In the fourth year of Shaoxing, Jia Shancheng from Dongyang cast a grand bell and built the Tripitaka Hall. By the Yuan Dynasty, due to the imperial family’s reverence for Islam, Shuanglin Temple gradually declined. Halls, gates, and rooms collapsed one after another, turning into overgrown wilderness, leaving only the mountain gate, scripture depository, monks’ hall, and the Bodhisattva Hall. In the autumn of the second year of the Yuan Emperor Shun’s Zhizheng era, Zen Master Yunlong came to reside at Shuanglin. Taking it upon himself to preach and raise funds, he led massive reconstruction efforts over seven years, bringing the ruined temple back to life. During the Ming Dynasty, further constructions continued, with four major projects alone taking place during Emperor Sizong’s reign, spanning a total of 17 years.

　　The true decline of Shuanglin Temple began in the Qing Dynasty. In the 45th year of Emperor Qianlong’s reign, the temple was struck by fire and could not be fully restored. Only the rear hall was repaired, leaving five rooms of monks’ quarters. In the seventh year of the Tongzhi era (1861), the Taiping Army captured Yiwu, “walls collapsed, tiles fell, beams and rafters were broken,” leaving only two rooms of monks’ quarters—those of Ren and Xin. In the eighth year of Tongzhi (1868), monks Fengchun, Xuelian, and Xuecheng appealed for help and raised funds for reconstruction. Work started in the autumn of that year and was completed by November of the following winter. In the 27th year of the Guangxu era, Tiantai monk Huiquan arrived at the temple. Saddened by the neglect of this sacred site, he invited lay devotee Sun Yuxian from Fenghua to raise a large sum of money. After more than twenty years of painstaking effort, the Dabeige Pavilion was constructed, along with a six-meter-tall statue of the Thousand-Armed Guanyin and 84 statues of the Great Compassion Mantra. The temple was renewed in splendor, though the original main hall, mountain gate, and others remained unrepaired. In the winter of 1928, Master Huiquan passed away. Disputes among his disciples over the position of abbot led to a conflict, culminating in arson that destroyed the newly built three-section Dabeige Pavilion and dozens of side rooms. After the fire, only the dilapidated mountain gate, around fifty damaged monks’ rooms, and five main hall rooms remained—totaling 60 structures. Compared to the over 200 rooms during the Song Dynasty, the temple had clearly fallen into desolation.

　　In the early 1940s, Shuanglin Temple had only about ten structures remaining, including the mountain gate, Guanyin Pavilion, middle hall, and upper hall. By 1958, the temple was completely destroyed. The original mountain gate became part of a reservoir dam, and the site was submerged. Even the Southeast’s largest industrial bell, over ten feet tall and inscribed with both Sanskrit and Chinese versions of the Shurangama Sutra, was smashed into scrap metal and sold to a supply and marketing cooperative. Aside from the Shuanglin Iron Pagoda, surviving relics are limited to fragments of Sui and Tang dynasty roof tiles and remnants of walls visible at the reservoir bottom.

　　In 1979, nuns Kairui and Shangqing returned to Shuanglin and initiated fundraising for reconstruction. Together, they built 24 halls and rooms. In October 1994, the Tower of the Relics of the Bodhisattva Zhidun was completed. Made of blue bricks, it has seven stories and stands 17.2 meters tall with an inner diameter of 5 meters. The lower three levels are open for visitors. In February 1986, Shuanglin Temple was designated as a key protected temple. It gained attention from all sectors of society and the international Buddhist community. Pilgrims from East and West flocked here, many proposing the restoration of the temple buildings to revive their former glory. In 1993, the Yiwu Municipal Government commissioned Southeast University to develop a master plan, which was approved in January 1994. The new temple complex features eight scenic spots. Its planning principles balance independence, heritage, compatibility, and development—respecting Buddhist cultural traditions and Zen aesthetics while reflecting modern spirit. The temple covers an area of 30,000 square meters, with a total investment of approximately 200 million RMB. In June 1997, the Mahavira Hall was completed. It stands 33 meters tall, 41 meters wide, and 30 meters deep, covering 2,000 square meters. Majestic and solemn, with an ancient aura, the bronze statue of the Bodhisattva Zhidun has also been finished. Standing six meters tall, the statue combines elements of a Confucian scholar’s cap, Daoist shoes, and Buddhist robes, symbolizing Zhidun’s philosophy of “Confucian conduct as foundation, Daoism as priority, and Buddhism as core,” embodying the unity of the Three Teachings and the imagery of Chinese Zen.

　　The treasured relic of the ancient Shuanglin Temple is the Shuanglin Iron Pagoda, cast in the second year of the Guangshun era of the Later Zhou Dynasty (952 AD), during the Five Dynasties period. It is China’s oldest iron pagoda and is recognized as a national treasure. This octagonal, five-story pagoda stands about five meters tall, with each level tapering elegantly from the bottom up. Its design is exquisitely crafted and uniquely imaginative. Due to wars and turmoil, only parts of the pagoda remain today: two body levels, one top level, one base, and one railing, with a current height of 2.15 meters. One level features 36 Buddha statues, while the other has 128. Each face of every level includes architraves and bracket sets (dougong). Between each set sits a Buddha statue. Scenes of surging seas, dragons spouting water, heavenly kings riding waves, deities ascending auspicious clouds, and celestial beasts come vividly to life. The pagoda’s structure is rigorous and craftsmanship exquisite. Despite over a thousand years of weathering, aside from some oxidation and rust, the iron remains glossy black, an awe-inspiring sight. It is a masterpiece of Buddhist art and a valuable historical artifact for studying ancient casting techniques. Cultural experts assert that no other iron pagoda in the country is as ancient and intricately adorned with fine patterns.

　　Address: Yunhuang Mountain, Fotang Town, Yiwu City, Jinhua

　　Type: Ancient Temple

　　Recommended Visiting Time: 1–2 hours

　　Ticket Information:

　　Free admission.