Longhua Temple　龙华寺

It is said that Longhua Temple was first constructed during the Chiwu period of Kingdom Wu of the Three Kingdom Period, and it was in the second year (AD 687) during the Chuigong period of the Tang Dynasty that palaces and halls were officially erected. The construction of Longhua Pagoda lasted from the third year during the Chuigong period of the Tang Dynasty to the second year during the Taiping Xingguo period of the Song Dynasty. The temple was named Kongxiang Temple in the third year (AD 1066) during the Zhiping period of the Song Dynasty. It was renamed Wanshou Cihua Temple in the 23rd year (AD 1553) during the Jiajing period of the Ming Dynasty and then the original name was restored in the Qing Dynasty. It is the oldest and largest temple in Shanghai.

Longhua Temple is grand and well planned, with the entire pagoda and halls, the bell tower and drum tower, maintaining the seven-hall system established in the Song Dynasty. The major buildings were constructed during the reigns of Emperors Shunzhi and Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty. Arranged along the symmetrical line, from south to north, are the Entrance Gate, the Maitreya Hall, the Heavenly King Hall, the Grand Hall, the Three-sage Hall, and Abbot Hualin's Building, on the second floor of which is the Sutra Room. On both sides are the Bell Tower and the Drum Tower, the Avalokitesvara Hall, the Arhat Hall, the Reception Hall and the Peony Garden. Enshrined and worshipped in the Grand Hall are the three sages. In the middle is the statue of Mahavairocana, who is wearing a crown and looks solemn but benevolent, together with his two assistants: Manjusri and Samantabhadra, on his left and right, and 20 guardian gods. The guardian gods originated from Huanyan Temple of Datong, Shanxi Province, with the Four Guardian Warriors among them. However, in the temples in Shanghai there are no Guardian Warriors. Behind them are sitting 16 arhats that are all in the images of Chinese people and attired in the brilliant and colorful monk uniforms. Under the bronze bell in the left of the hall is the Sitting Koitigarbha. Behind the Mahavairocana is the large statue of Avalokitesvara. Standing on the head of the tortoise, beautiful and graceful, she is looking downward with composure. By her side are a boy and a girl, Shancai and Longnu. The congregation of the Buddha, the four Bodhis, the sixteen arhats and the 20 guardian gods in the Grand Hall of Longhua Temple is really unique in all Buddhist temples in China. In the Three-sage Hall are enshrined and worshipped the Three Sages in the West. The statue of Amitabha together with the statue of Avalokitesvara on his left and the statue of Mahasthamaprapta on his right indicates that Longhua Temple belongs to Pure Land Buddhism. Written on one of the plaques in the hall are four Chinese characters, Lian Feng Yuan Bi, meaning the aroma of lotus floating afar, the calligraphy by Master Yuan Ying, an eminent monk in contemporary China. And Longhua Temple is also called the Maitreya platform. The pot-bellied Maitreya, enshrined and worshipped in the Maitreya Hall and also called the cloth-bag monk, is his incarnation image. However, the crowned Maitreya, enshrined and worshipped in the Heavenly King Hall and the Arhat Hall, is his actual image. The two Chinese characters Long Hua come from the Buddhist Sutra. Maitreya became Buddha under the Longhua Tree in the Hualin Garden, and then he supervised the Longhua congregation to preach Buddhism. As a result, the temple was named Longhua.

Longhua Pagoda, one of the key cultural relics under national protection, is located on the west in front of the temple. It is a pagoda of wood-and-brick structure. The pagoda is over 40 m tall, and has eight facets and seven stories. From the characters engraved on its bricks, it is said that the pagoda was built in the second year (AD 977) during the Taiping Xingguo period of the Song Dynasty. Therefore, the architecture of the pagoda is of the Song Dynasty style.

The Bell Tower and the Drum Tower, which began to be constructed in the Ming Dynasty, are respectively located at the east and west end of the temple. Typically of the seven-hall system established in the Song Dynasty, Longhua Temple consists of all the major buildings, including pagoda, temple, bell tower and drum tower. Longhua Temple is said to have three unique objects: 1) the two pieces of bamboo-leaf agate that are respectively inlaid in the floor in the front of the Maitreya Hall and the Grand Hall; 2) the southwest border stone of the Kongxiang Temple of the Song Dynasty that is set in the Chengbi Pavilion in the Taying Garden; and 3) the hundred-year-old peony in the Peony Garden that is over 160 years old and is said to have once blossomed more than 250 peonies. And the temple has three precious treasures: the gilded bronze statue of Mahavairocana made in the Ming Dynasty, the Gold Seal bestowed on the temple by Emperor Wanli of the Ming Dynasty, and the Buddhist Sutra from the Ming Dynasty.

Longhua Temple holds the rituals of listening to the tolling of the bell every day and Buddhist service every month. There are holiday gatherings and celebrations almost all year round. The two major folk activities, i.e. Longhua Fair and the tolling of the bell on the New Year's Eve to welcome the New Year, are held here. Ever since it began in the Ming Dynasty, Longhua Fair has lasted over 400 years, which has been on the list of China's nonmaterial cultural heritage. It is the most influential and most welcomed folk festival activity in Shanghai. Tourists come here to participate in Buddhist activities, such as enjoying vegetarian foods, chanting Buddhist Sutra, and tolling the bell and striking the drum. In addition, they could listen to the preaching by the abbot, trying to understand the profound Buddhism.

Address: Longhua Temple No.2852, Longhua Road

Tel.: 021-64566085

Open Hours: 8:00 - 17:00