Jiuhuashan Qiyuan Temple

CHINA, Anhui, Chizhou

The temple is located to the east of Huacheng Temple, along Jiuhua Street. It was constructed during the reign of Emperor Jiajing (reigned 1521–1566) of the Ming dynasty. However, it collapsed during the rule of Emperor Jiaqing (reigned 1796–1820) of the Qing dynasty. Subsequent reconstructions and expansions made it the largest temple on Jiuhuashan. It was listed as a key Buddhist temple in the Han region of China in 1983.
The temple occupies 5,175 sq m and consists of the Lingguan Hall (main temple gate), Heavenly King Hall, and the Great Hero Hall. Due to the scarcity of space, the courtyards in front of the Lingguan Hall and the Heavenly King Hall are not square. Moreover, the main temple gate, Heavenly King Hall, and the Great Hero Hall are at an angle of 45 degrees to each other, which is a rarely seen layout. The five-bay wide Lingguan Hall has a single-eave flush gable roof with a stepped gable wall on either side. The portico has a triple-tier hip-and-gable roof covered with yellow glazed tiles. The main building is the Great Hero Hall, which is built on a 2 m high platform. It has a double-eave hip-and-gable roof covered with yellow glazed tiles. The hall houses gilt statues of the Buddhas of the Past, Present, and Future, namely Sakyamuni Buddha, Dipamkara Buddha, and Maitreya Buddha. The statues are around 7 m high and their craftsmanship is considered the best on Jiuhuashan. Behind the Buddhas, there is a sculpture of Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva standing on the head of a giant sea turtle, surrounded by more than a hundred images of Bodhisattvas, Heavenly Kings, and warriors.