Chongfu Temple

CHINA, Fujian, Quanzhou

Chongfu means Sublime Blessing. The temple was constructed during the early Northern Song dynasty (960–1127). After the Yuan dynasty (1271–1368) the temple flourished and then declined. It was listed as a Provincial Cultural Heritage Site in 1996.
The temple faces east and its main buildings are the Heavenly King Hall, Great Hero Hall, Avalokitesvara Hall, and the bell and drum towers, which are located on either side. The five-by-six bay, brick and timber Great Hero Hall has a double-eave hip-and-gable roof. The corners of the eaves are upturned and are supported by large bracket sets. Four Ming-dynasty, octagonal, stone columns with dragons coiling around them support the lower eaves in the front of the hall. Statues of Sakyamuni Buddha, the Medicine Buddha, and Amitabha Buddha are enshrined within the hall. The horizontal board hung inside the hall was written by Master Hongyi. A statue of the Thousand-Armed Avalokitesvara is enshrined within the Avalokitesvara Hall.
The temple is reputed to have three treasures. Firstly, there is the seven-story, octagonal, solid granite Yinggeng Pagoda, which is 10.9 m high. It was constructed during the Northern Song dynasty, and it is the earliest stone pagoda in Quanzhou. Secondly, the large three-legged bronze caldron is 1.8 m high and has a 1.5 m diameter. It is also known as Thousand People Caldron due to its size. Thirdly, the massive copper bell that was cast in 1387 during the Ming dynasty is 2 m high and weighs 800 kg. It is engraved with the Surangama Sutra. It makes a deep and resonant sound, so that the temple is also known as the Resonant Bell Temple.