Chongfu Temple

CHINA, Fujian, Fuzhou

Chongfu means Sublime Blessing. The temple was built in 977 during the Northern Song dynasty but was later destroyed and left in ruins. At the end of the Ming dynasty (1368–1644) and the beginning of the Qing dynasty (1644–1911), the temple saw some reconstruction but it was not until 1699 that the temple was expanded. It was further repaired and expanded in 1895 to become one of Five Major Temples of Chan Buddhism in Fuzhou. It is also known as the foremost nunnery in the Jiangnan (region south of the Yangtze River). It follows the Caodong school of Chan Buddhism. A female Buddhist College was set up in 1981. It was listed as a key Buddhist temple in the Han region of China in 1983.
The temple occupies 6,200 sq m. The principal buildings include the main temple gate, the bell and drum towers, Heavenly King Hall, Great Hero Hall, Dharma Hall, chanting hall, Five Contemplation Hall, and Avalokitesvara Pavilion. The three-bay wide main temple gate has a hip-and-gable roof covered in green-glazed cylindrical tiles. The five-bay wide Great Hero Hall is built on a high platform and has a double-eave hip-and-gable roof.