Dafo Temple Scenic Area

　　Guide:     Dafo Temple is situated approximately two kilometers north of Caozhai Township in the urban area of Jinhua City, Zhejiang Province, about 18 kilometers from downtown. It is commonly known as "Stone Buddha Temple." In the sixth year of the Datong era during the reign of Emperor Wu of the Liang Dynasty in the Southern Dynasties (540 AD), the monk Daoqiong arrived at the southern foothills of the mountain. Hearing the sounds of sacred Buddhist chants resonating like metal and stone, he climbed along the rocky slope and discovered a massive stone Buddha, six zhang tall (about 20 meters), sitting upright in a meditative pose. A temple was thus built at the site. It has a history of nearly 1,500 years. During the Song Dynasty, it was renamed to Dafo Temple, commonly referred to as "Xiyen Temple."     The temple complex is built against a cliff with thousands of layers of red strata and features structures such as the Hall of Five Hundred Arhats, the Jade Buddha Hall, and "One Dragon of the South." Other attractions include Mandarin Duck Forest, Jinhua Stele Forest, and Gonglu Cave. The main existing Buddhist structures of the temple include the Stone Archway, Mountain Gate, Mahavira Hall, Maitreya Hall, Three Vehicles Bridge, Heavenly King Hall, and the Arhat Hall.     Introduction:       The most distinctive feature of the temple is the large Buddha statue. The Buddha sits cross-legged in a cave, measuring over one zhang and eight chi (approximately 6 meters) in length, with its head touching the edge of the cliff. Its broad forehead, slender eyebrows and eyes, square jaw, thin lips, and ears that reach down to the shoulders reflect the serenity and wisdom of Sakyamuni. The overall form is full-bodied and graceful. The exposed part of the Buddha's chest is particularly finely sculpted, giving the impression that the heart is beating, making it extraordinarily lifelike. In terms of proportions, the artisans deliberately enlarged the head—for instance, the Buddha’s eyes are almost as wide as a palm—but viewers do not perceive any sense of disproportion.     Arhat Hall. All five hundred arhats are carved from Qingtian jade, each with a unique posture and vividly lifelike. A giant dragon lying atop the red cliffs sprays rain that forms mist, with rainbows arching over the temple—even on clear, cloudless days, a rainbow can often be seen overhead.     Transportation:       Take Bus No. 7 (You 7) from downtown Jinhua.  

　　 Jinhua City, Zhejiang Province