Hansha Zang Temple

　　   Hansha Zang Temple is located in Hansha Village, Mengmao Town, and is one of the most famous zang temples in Ruili. The former abbot of Hansha Temple, Venerable Wubinya Wensha, was a renowned master of Theravāda Buddhism and held great esteem among the faithful. He served as a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, Vice Chairman of the Advisory Committee of the Buddhist Association of China, and Vice President of the Buddhist Association of Yunnan Province. In 2002, Venerable Wubinya Wensha passed away, and his funeral — the grand “Ten Thousand People’s La Luo Ceremony” and memorial Dharma assembly — was the largest, highest-level, and most attended ceremony in the history of Dehong Prefecture. Tens of thousands of people from both sides of the China-Myanmar border and his disciples attended the memorial service.

　　   The term “zangfang” (zang temple) generally refers to a Buddhist temple — a place where monks practice and where monks preach the Dharma. Built within a Dai ethnic village, Hansha Zang Temple is an architectural gem surrounded by phoenix bamboo and drooping banyan branches, notable for its distinctive ethnic style. It represents the essence of Dai architecture and a treasure trove of Dai cultural artistry. According to Dai historical records, during the ancient Mengmao Kingdom, it once briefly served as the capital, and there are also legends that it was originally a resting place for mandarin ducks.

　　   Hansha Zang Temple is a stilt-style building, majestic and beautiful, with richly colorful decorations. A large statue of Sakyamuni Buddha sits cross-legged on the shrine, serene and dignified with a kind expression, flanked by his five main disciples. The roof and walls are adorned with paintings of auspicious creatures such as peacocks, white elephants, and qilins. Colorful long streamers hang from the beams, giving the temple an opulent and splendid appearance.