Ayuwang Temple

CHINA, Zhejiang, Ningbo

Ayuwang means King Asoka (reigned circa 269–232 BCE) of Maurya and the temple is famous for housing relics of the Buddha. According to the records, the monk Huida obtained a relic stupa in 282 during the Western Jin dynasty. It is thought that it may have been one of the 84,000 stupas that King Asoka built to house Buddha’s relics, so he built a hut to protect it. In 405 during the Eastern Jin dynasty, a pavilion was built to enshrine the stupa. It was not until 425 of the Liu Song dynasty that a hall was built, and more halls were added in 522 during the Liang dynasty. The temple reached its peak during the Five Dynasties period (907–960) and the Song dynasty (960–1279). In 1008 during the Eastern Song dynasty, it was converted to a Chan monastery. The temple has been abandoned and revived a number of times over the years. The present buildings were mostly repaired during the Qing dynasty (1644–1911). It was listed as a National Cultural Heritage Site in 2006.
The temple faces south and occupies 12.4 ha, with the buildings taking up 2.3 ha. Along the central axis there are the Heavenly King Hall, Great Hero Hall, Relic Hall, and the sutra repository. A Free Life Pond is located in front of the temple, while pagodas are located on the east and west sides. The pagoda to the east no longer exists, while the one in the west is still standing. It was constructed in 1365 during the Yuan dynasty, and is the oldest existing structure of the temple. The three major buildings along the central axis all have double-eave hip-and-gable roofs, while only the Relic Hall is covered in yellow glazed tiles. Inside the Relic Hall there is a stone stupa, within which is a wooden stupa inlaid with seven different types of jewels. The Buddha’s relics are enshrined within the wooden stupa. Behind the stupa, there is a statue of the reclining Buddha.