Lushan Temple

CHINA, Hunan, Changsha

Lushan means Foot of the Mountain, which refers to the temple’s location on Yuelushan (Foothill Mountain). The temple was constructed by Chan Master Fachong in 268 during the Western Jin dynasty. It is considered to be the cradle of Buddhism in Hunan. It was destroyed during the persecution of Buddhism in 845, then rebuilt and destroyed again in wartime. The temple has flourished and declined throughout its history. In 1944 the temple was destroyed during the Sino-Japanese war, with only the main temple gate and the sutra repository remaining. It was listed as a key Buddhist temple in the Han region of China in 1983.
The current layout of the temple is the result of reconstruction work carried out in 1988. The main structures include the main temple gate, Maitreya Hall, Great Hero Hall, and the sutra repository. Along the sides are the bell and drum towers, meditation hall, and lecture hall. The main temple gate is a standalone structure with three arched doorways. The Maitreya Hall houses both Maitreya and Skanda Bodhisattvas, while 18 Buddha images are inlaid in the walls. The Great Hero Hall has a double-eave hip-and-gable roof, which is covered in yellow glazed tiles. It is seven bays wide and is supported by 42 circular stone columns. Statues of Sakyamuni Buddha, the Medicine Buddha, and Amitabha Buddha are enshrined within the hall. On the side and back walls are carvings of the Thousand Buddhas. The sutra repository was built in 1700 during the Qing dynasty. It is also known as the Avalokitesvara Pavilion, since it houses a statue of Avalokitesvara.