The Thousand-Year-Old Buddhist Light Shines on Quanzhou: Explore the history and legends of Kaiyuan Temple.

Quanzhou Kaiyuan Temple is a time-honored Buddhist temple located on West Street, Quanzhou City, Fujian Province. It is known as the "First Temple in Southern Fujian". It was first built in the second year of the Chuigong era of the Tang Dynasty (686) and was initially named Lotus Dojo. It was renamed Kaiyuan Temple in the 26th year of the Kaiyuan era (738). Kaiyuan Temple covers an area of about 78,000 square meters. It faces south and has a north-south central axis. From south to north, there are Ziyun Screen, Mountain Gate (Hall of Heavenly Kings), Worship Pavilion, Mahavira Hall, Manlu Jie Altar, Sutra Depository, and other buildings. The Zhen Guo Pagoda and Ren Shou Pagoda, two stone pagodas, are located on the east and west sides, respectively. They are commonly known as the East and West Pagodas and are iconic buildings in Quanzhou. Kaiyuan Temple is not only the center of Buddhist activities but also the largest Buddhist temple with the most prominent official status in Quanzhou during the Song and Yuan Dynasties. Its temple economy and diverse cultural relics reflect the economic prosperity and cultural coexistence brought to Quanzhou by maritime trade during the Song and Yuan Dynasties. There are many objects in the temple that are rich in the characteristics of Chinese and foreign economic and cultural exchanges, such as Hindu-style square stone pagodas, lion-headed human figures in ancient Greek and Indian carving styles, etc., which are witnesses to the cultural exchanges between China and foreign countries. Kaiyuan Temple has a unique architectural style, rich architectural types, and exquisite architectural skills. It is a collection of ancient Chinese architectural art. The wood carvings, stone carvings, clay sculptures, brick carvings, Buddha statues, and sutra banners preserved in the temple since the Tang and Song Dynasties are beautifully shaped, colorful, and richly decorated. They are known as the collection of Buddhist sculpture art. The flying apsaras and musicians on the beams and frames of the Mahavira Hall and the Jie Altar are beautifully shaped, floating and moving, showing mysterious colors. They are rare works in Chinese wooden structures. The East and West Pagodas of Kaiyuan Temple are the tallest stone twin pagodas in the country. They are in the style of imitation wooden towers and pavilions. The structure is scientifically reasonable, and the craftsmanship is exquisite. They withstood an 8-magnitude earthquake in the Ming Dynasty and remained intact. These two pagodas are not only landmark buildings in Quanzhou City but also the image logo of Quanzhou City. They play a positive role in promoting cultural exchanges and social interactions across the Taiwan Strait. As the origin of the planning of the ancient city of Quanzhou and the evidence of multicultural exchanges, Kaiyuan Temple has become one of the 22 sites for the 2021 World Heritage application project "Quanzhou: The World Maritime Trade Center of Song and Yuan China", which brings Chinese culture to the world. It is a famous temple in southern Fujian, an important cultural relic resource, and a tourist attraction. It plays a positive role in promoting the development of tourism and related industries in Quanzhou City. Every year, it attracts a large number of tourists and believers to visit and worship. It is an important part of the spiritual and cultural life of the people of Quanzhou. On the 26th day of each lunar month, Quanzhou Kaiyuan Temple will usher in a grand Diligent Buddha Day. Believers come from all directions to pray for peace and auspiciousness. Here, you can feel the power of faith and experience the tranquility and harmony that transcends time and space. Quanzhou Kaiyuan Temple is not only the center of Buddhist culture but also a witness to the integration of diverse cultures. Here, you can feel the traces of diverse cultures such as Hinduism and Islam. They coexist harmoniously with Buddhist culture and jointly compose a symphony of the Maritime Silk Road. Here, every step is an exploration of history, and every glance is a blend of cultures. Don't hesitate, let's walk into Kaiyuan Temple together and start a journey through time and space for thousands of years. Quanzhou Kaiyuan Temple