Puji Temple

It is one of the three biggest temples on Putuoshan located at the west of 100-pace Beach. In front of the temple lies Haiyin Pool. It is the largest of its kind in Southeast China.

Puji Temple's origin started as the 'Not-Leaving Guanyin' Temple in the Tang Dynasty(618-907). In the 3rd year (1080) of the reign of emperor Shenzong Yuanfeng of the Song Dynasty it was reconstructed, moved and granted it's now known name, Puji Temple. In the 38th year of emperor Kangxi during the Qing dynasty (1699), they started to repair it and in the 9th year (1731 AD) of the reign of Emperor Yongzheng it was finished. Then it was also granted the horizontal inscribed boards with the words of 'popular--saving masses of souls' and 'popular-saving buddhist temple' on each.

Legend holds that when Emperor Zhuang wanted to visit this temple, because he was dressed as a normal peasant, a monk wouldn't let him in the main door and instead let him in through the side. Furious, the emperor ordered that no one be allowed to enter that entrance. So now you have to enter at a side-door.

There are altogether over 200 structures, including Hall of Heavenly Kings, Hall of Yuantong, Building of Buddhist Scriptures, Hall of Abbot, etc. The construction with 9 halls, 12 pavilions and 16 houses, is magnificent and large in scale, and covers an area of 14,000 square meters. The Hall of Yuantong is the main building in Puji Temple, in which there is an 8.8 meter high bronze statue of Guanyin, the only representation of Guanyin constructed by Putuoshan natives. On both sides of the hall there are 32 reincarnations of Guanyin, as legend has it that Guanyin was infinitely powerful that she would grant whatever is requested. In its main hall sits also a magnificent grand Buddha flanked by statues of the Eighteen Mythical Disciples. Other halls house lesser Buddhas, including Wen Shu Buddha, the golden Buddha of learning, better known as the Buddha of university entrance examinations for many of the young people who visit.

The temple can hold up more than 1000 people at the same time. In the early morning( 4.00 am) you can accompany the monks in their chanting and worshipping of the goddess Guanyin. It's a common use to burn some (fake) money for the ancestors or for yourselve, for use in the after-life.

For information or reservation call or send an e-mail to Chen Zhongyu ((0580)6091227) in Putuoshan.

This page is made by Anthony Debyser. For comment on this page send an e-mail to adebyser@hotmail.com