Puzhao Temple

CHINA, Shaanxi, Weinan

Puzhao means Universal Light. The temple was built in 1316 during the Yuan dynasty and has been reconstructed a number of times. It was listed as a National Cultural Heritage Site in 2001.
The temple occupies 4,453 sq m and consists of the main hall, Sangharama Hall, Dharma Protector Hall, Avalokitesvara Cave, and two gate towers. The five-by-three bay main hall has a single-eave hip-and-gable roof. The walls are exceptionally thick and taper sharply. The columns are hidden within the walls, with only the capitals visible. Inside the building, the roof framework is exposed. Painted clay statues of Sakyamuni Buddha, Manjusri Bodhisattva, Samantabhadra Bodhisattva, Ananda, and Mahakasyapa are enshrined within the hall. They date back to 1328 of the Yuan dynasty. The statue of Sakyamuni Buddha is 4.2 m high and is seated in full lotus position on a lotus throne. The ceiling is colorfully painted with Arhats, auspicious creatures, birds, and flowers, which date to the Ming (1368–1644) and Qing (1644–1911) dynasties. There are two gate towers with flush gable roofs in front of the main hall. They are constructed in imitation of wooden structures and each houses three steles.
The buildings in the surrounding area constitute one sixth of existing Yuan dynasty (1271–1368) buildings in China. Most of them are standalone structures. A museum dedicated to Yuan dynasty buildings in Shaanxi is planned with Puzhao Temple as the focal point.