Shanghai's Millennium Ancient Temple - Donglin Temple

I have been to many temples, but until I came to the Donglin Temple in Shanghai, the temple in front of me was unique. I felt like I was in a foreign land, as if I had entered another world. Although Donglin Temple is a niche tourist attraction, it is very popular. When I asked, I found that most of the people here are from Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Shanghai, and most of them come to pray for wealth.

There are five gilded pagodas on the top of the temple gate. They are shaped like five golden lotus flowers skillfully made of hand-made brass. There is a gilded Buddha relief on each petal, which is magnificent when viewed from afar or up close. 999 relief sculptures of Guanyin form a "Buddha" character as high as the door. There are also 999 relief sculptures of Arhats on both sides of the bronze door. The production process is complex and delicate, demonstrating a high level of artistic level. Elements such as the relief and the five golden lotus flowers on the top contain profound Buddhist cultural connotations and embody the solemnity and mystery of Buddhism.

The main building of the temple is built against a tall imitation rockery building, forming a unique integration of mountain and temple. The double-eaved mountain of the front hall covers an area of ​​nearly 350 square meters and is 57 meters high. It looks like the image of the Buddha, wearing a cassock and lying or standing.

In addition, the temple holds many Guinness World Records

- The tallest cloisonné statue: the statue of the boy Shancai, 5.408 meters high, is painted with enamel color materials and uses traditional copper-based cloisonné enamel craftsmanship.
- The tallest bronze door: Thousand Buddha Gate, 20.08 meters high, made of brass, with 999 bronze Guanyin statues engraved on the door, forming a "Buddha" Chinese character.
- The tallest indoor Guanyin statue: The Thousand-Armed and Thousand-Eyed Guanyin statue, 27.352 meters high, is located in the Guanyin Pavilion.

Post by Ward_Belinda_23 | Feb 20, 2025