Wenshu Temple, Chengdu

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This is the main entrance hall into the monastery complex. It was built in the 45th year during the reign of Emperor Kangxi in 1706 and then rebuilt in 1821. Enshrined in the centre of the hall is a 1.7 meter high sitting copper statue of Maitreya Bodhisattva moulded in 1829. He is the Future Buddha and is sometimes known as the laughing Buddha. On either side of him on the sides of the hall are the four temple guardians.

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The Hall of Three Saints is the first hall you'll come to after stepping through the main entrance gate known as the Hall of Lokapalas. The hall is flanked by the drum tower on the left and the bell tower on the right. The hall features a single-eaved roof and was built in the 36th year of the reign of Emperor Kangxi in 1697 and was renovated in 1815. Enshrined in the hall are riding statues of the three saints: Avalokitesvara, Manjusri and Samantabhadra. They were moulded in 1829 and symbolise mercy, wisdom and aspiration. On the two sides of the hall are iron statues of Emperor Wenchang and Emperor Guansheng which were moulded during the reign of Emperor Tongzhi.

This hall is the next hall after the Hall of Three Saints. Again, the hall features a single-eaved roof and was built in the 36th year of the reign of Emperor Kangxi in 1697. It was then rebuilt in 1741 and then expanded in 1818. Enshrined in the hall is a 2.64 meter high sitting statue of Sakyamuni made out of copper which was moulded in 1829. He is the founder of Buddhism. Flanking him are the statues of Mahakasyapa and Ananda, his austerity and attendant disciples. In front of the Sakyamuni statue is a 1.32 meter high copper statue of the 32-armed Avalokitesvara.

This hall is the next hall after the Sakyamuni Hall and, again, features a single-eaved roof and was built in the 36th year of the reign of Emperor Kangxi in 1697. It was then rebuilt in 1807. Enshrined in the very centre of the hall are the gauze and clay moulded statues of the Medicine Buddha and twelve Yaksas. On the two sides of the hall are enshrined the clay statues of the 18 Arhats (the 18 disciples of Buddha), 18 temple guardians and 24 Devalokas.

The last hall in this particular line is the Tripitaka Pavilion which is also known as the Scripture Pavilion. It was originally built in the 36th year of the reign of Emperor Kangxi in 1697 and was rebuilt in 1824. The pavilion has two storeys with a depository for holding Buddhist scriptures upstairs and a place for holding Buddhist ceremonies downstairs. Enshrined here is a jade Buddha, a present from Burma.

This pavilion was originally built in the 22nd year of the reign of Emperor Jiaqing in 1817. It used to be a wooden structure and used for garden decoration. In 1873, the ninth master abbot Sengwu Xiufu rebuilt it and added a small tablet of "Pavilion of Six" on the pavilion. "Six" is a common Buddhist numeral suggesting the "six senses", "six gunas", "six thoughts", "six characteristics" and "six metaphors".

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The Wenshu Monastery is a famous place to come and take tea. The whole complex features some nice gardens and some teahouses which seem to be built in the gardens so that people can relax and be socialable.

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This is a fairly large place with nice grounds, gardens and trees. The entrance is easy enough to find, but the ticket window is just a hole in one of the exterior walls. Take a while to stroll the grounds. This Temple isn't as intricately decorated as some, but it's still nice.

Five images. More at the travelogue, "Scenes From Wenshu Temple".