Southern Putuo Temple 南普陀寺

Southern Putuo Temple was established in the Tang Dynasty (618-907), and was originally named Sizhou Temple 泗洲院and then renamed Puzhao Temple普照寺in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). At present, the Puzhao Hall in the temple still bears that name. The temple was damaged twice during wars. In 1684, Shi Lang 施琅(1621-1696), a general of the Qing Dynasty(1644-1911) rebuilt the temple and changed the name to “Nanputuo” (meaning “Southern Putuo”), because it is situated to the south of Putuo Mountain, a sacred Buddhist mountain in Zhejiang Province. When tourists step into the temple, they will go through the Hall of Heavenly Kings, where the statues of four ferocious Heavenly Kings are placed. In the centre of the hall is a statue of Maitreya, a Bodhisattva as represented by a very stout monk with a broad smile, bare chest and exposed paunch. Behind the Maitreya, there is Bodhisattva Weituo, who points his sword to the ground, indicating that this temple accommodates all traveling monks.

The main buildings of Nanputuo Temple are arranged on a central axis. After the Hall of Heavenly Kings, tourists go through the Precious Hall of Great Hero 大雄宝殿， the Hall of Great Mercy大悲殿and the Buddhist Scripture Garret藏经楼up along the mountainside. At the center of the temple lies the Precious Hall of Great Hero, consecrated to the Buddhas of three lifetimes and the three western saints. The hall is also the place for the monks to do their daily morning and evening chanting. For thousands of years, chanting has been a key practice of Buddhist followers to purify their minds. The Hall of Great Mercy is another main building in the temple, consecrated to Guanyin Avalokitesvara. Standing on stone platform 30 steps high, the octagonal building has a three-layer roof supported by brackets without using nails or beams. The local people call this complex bracketing system “spider weaving cobweb.” The hall is particularly prosperous because many Buddhist converts from South Fujian believe in Guanyin Avalokitesvara. The Buddhist Scriptures Garret is located at the highest of the axis of the main buildings. Its first floor serves as the “Worshipping Hall,” and the second floor holds a large number of Buddhist scriptures.

On both sides of the axis are newly-built structures. To the left of the axis are the Buddhist Institute of South Fujian, Abbot’s Building, Meditation Hall and the dormitory of the monks. To the right are the Buddhist Prayer Hall, Haihui Hall and Puzhao Hall. The last two buildings are where the famous vegetarian food of Nanputuo Temple is served. Not only does the food offer a uniquely light and fresh taste, but the names of the dishes treat diners to poetic associations, like “Half Moon in the River,” “Silk Rain and Lonely Cloud,” and “Pearl of the South Sea.”

The buildings of Nanputuo are spread over a mountainside of complicated topography, and are different in forms to suit various functions. However, all the buildings are marked with multi-layered roofs decorated with yellow glazed tiles and carvings of animals, which are in accordance with traditional South Fujian architecture. In addition, local granite is largely used in columins, beams, arcs, rails and pathways, among other things. Together these buildings create a generally solemn and magnificent atmosphere. The area above the Buddhist Scrptures Garret is made up of Mainly commemorative places, which reflect the history of Nanputuo. Example of these is the Pagoda of Monk Zhuan Feng built in the memory of a monk who reformed the temple’s original hereditary sectarian system of abbot selection in 1924. From that time on, Nanputuo Temple adopted a democratic election system for the position. The Tai Xu Pavilion reminds one of Master Tai Xu, who was abbot of Nanputuo from 1927 to 1932, during which time he rectified the discipline of the Buddhism Institute of South Fujian and took charge of the reconstruction of the Hall of Great Mercy. Another story is about Hong Yi (1880-1942), who is one of the most celebrated monks who used to live in the temple. Originally named Li Shutong, Hong Yi was once a versatile artist who made outstanding achievements in drama, music, poetry, painting and calligraphy. After he became a monk at the age of 39, he also contributed a number of important Buddhist works. Today the temple still keeps some of Hong Yi’s manuscripts. When visitors reach the Tai Xu Pavilion, they face the sea on the one side and mountain on the other side. What a charming place it is!

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