Millennium Relic Pilgrimage Journey

Location
Famen Cultural Scenic Area is located in Famen Town, about 10 kilometers north of Fufeng County, Baoji City, Shaanxi Province. It lies at the key route of the ancient Silk Road and the western part of the Guanzhong Plain. The temple is backed by the Qinling Mountains to the south and bordered by the Weishui River to the north, surrounded by rich historical and cultural heritage. Starting from Baoji city center, it takes about 40 minutes by car along the Lianhuo Expressway to reach the site. It is approximately 120 kilometers from Xi’an Xianyang International Airport, making transportation convenient for visitors to explore this Buddhist holy site, known as the "Ancestor of Guanzhong Pagodas."

Architecture and Cultural Relics
The core building of Famen Temple is the True Body Pagoda, a Ming Dynasty brick pagoda soaring into the sky. The pagoda is octagonal with thirteen stories, built entirely of blue bricks, with wind chimes hanging from the eaves that produce a clear and distant sound when the breeze passes. Beneath the pagoda lies the underground palace from the Tang Dynasty, consisting of steps, a walkway, platforms, front chamber, middle chamber, rear chamber, and secret niches, all constructed with bluestone and decorated with exquisite line carvings. Four Buddha finger relics were discovered inside the underground palace, including one spiritual bone that is the true finger bone relic of Shakyamuni Buddha, enshrined in a pure gold pagoda finial and silver coffin.

The temple’s Treasure Hall displays over a thousand rare treasures offered by the Tang royal family: a gilded silver True Body Bodhisattva statue standing 38.5 cm tall, inlaid with pearls and gemstones; a silver and gold flower twelve-ring tin staff measuring 1.96 meters long and weighing 2.39 kilograms, engraved with entwined lotus patterns; a secret color porcelain bowl with a glaze as green as a lake, presenting a visual marvel of "water emerging from nothing"; a complete tea set including a silver tea grinder and silver tea strainer, showcasing the essence of Tang Dynasty court tea culture.

Pilgrimage Experience
At dawn, participate in the underground palace morning chanting, where monks dressed in sea-blue kasaya robes hold agarwood prayer beads and recite the Diamond Sutra before the true relic. Pilgrims can follow the host monk along the central axis to worship, passing through the Buddha Light Gate, Prajna Gate, and Bodhi Gate, finally venerating the Buddha finger relic in front of the Joined Hands Relic Pagoda. On the first and fifteenth days of the lunar month, the temple opens a special passage to the underground palace, allowing devotees to ascend the white marble stairs directly to the core area of the underground palace and closely admire the eight-layered treasure box enshrining the relic.

The temple offers meditation experiences; in the Dharma Hall, visitors can join morning and evening chanting sessions and learn to chant the Lotus Sutra with the master. The tea room, located in the east wing of the Sutra Library, serves Fufeng specialty Fu tea paired with Famen vegetarian cakes. Visitors can also make Tang Dynasty stone rubbing copies by hand at the temple’s rubbing center or participate in Buddhist culture lectures.

Cultural Heritage
The existing buildings of Famen Temple strictly follow the Buddhist seven-hall monastic layout, with the central axis arranged sequentially as the Mountain Gate, Heavenly King Hall, Mahavira Hall, and Joined Hands Relic Pagoda. The Mahavira Hall features a double-eaved hip-and-gable roof with hanging lotus pillars beneath the eaves. Inside, the Three Buddhas are enshrined, with sandalwood openwork carvings on the backlight. The temple preserves the Northern Wei Dynasty’s "Famen Temple Stele" and the Tang Dynasty’s "Inventory Stele," which record in detail the grand ceremonies of emperors receiving Buddha bones. The "Buddha Finger Relic Veneration Ceremony" held annually on the eighth day of the fourth lunar month reenacts the imperial procession scenes depicted in the Tang Dynasty painting "Welcoming the Buddha Bones."

Overall Evaluation
The pilgrimage experience at Famen Temple is truly fulfilling. Whether it is the solemn and magnificent underground relic or the exquisite Tang Dynasty treasures, visitors can deeply feel the profound heritage of this ancient temple. For those exploring Buddhist culture or studying ancient art, this is undoubtedly an irreplaceable holy site. It is recommended to allocate a full day for the visit, preferably arriving early on a non-holiday morning to avoid crowds and reflect in peace.

Post by Elijah Foster Lucas-99 | Oct 20, 2025