Fufeng County Travel Recommendations for 2024 (Updated in Jun)
Famen Temple Travel Recommendations for 2024 (Updated in Jun)
Famen Temple
Famen Temple, also known as the "True Body Pagoda", is located in Fufeng County, Baoji City, the hometown of Emperor Yan and the land of bronze ware. It is a key cultural relic protection unit in China, 110 kilometers east of Xi'an city center, and 90 kilometers west of Baoji city center. Famen Temple was originally built during the Huanling period at the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, with a history of more than 1700 years. It was renamed "Famen Temple" during the reign of Emperor Gaozu of Tang. Famen Temple is known as the imperial temple and has become a Buddhist holy land revered by the nation for housing the finger bone relics of Sakyamuni Buddha. The Famen Temple Pagoda is honored as the "Protecting the Nation True Body Pagoda". The Famen Temple Cultural Scenic Area, where the temple is located, is a national 5A-level tourist attraction.
Famen Temple's underground palace is the largest pagoda underground palace seen to date. The Famen Temple underground palace unearthed the finger bone relics of Sakyamuni Buddha, copper stupa, eight-treasure box, silver flower double-wheel twelve-ring tin staff, and other supreme Buddhist treasures. The Famen Temple Treasure Hall houses more than two thousand pieces of Tang Dynasty national treasures unearthed from the Famen Temple underground palace, making it the most in the world for a temple.
Famen Temple
Famen Temple, a Chinese monastery rich in legendary color, has long been a famous Buddhist holy site in China, known as the 'Ancestor of Pagoda Temples in Guanzhong'. For two thousand years, due to the Buddha's bone relics it enshrines and its unique geographical location, it has established an important position in the Chinese Buddhist community. Passing through the mountain gate, I felt as if I had stepped into another world—warm sunlight reflecting off the yellow walls, the sound of chanting around me, the simple architecture and the solemn atmosphere involuntarily make one lay down the busy thoughts of the mundane world, to appreciate the sublimation of the spirit and the purification of the heart
Roaming in the snow at Famen Temple
Famen Temple, located in Famen Town, north of Fufeng County, Baoji City, is said to have been established during the Hengling period of the Eastern Han Dynasty. It was most prosperous in the Tang Dynasty. Because the Li Tang Dynasty placed the true finger bone relics of Sakyamuni, it became one of the four famous temples, known as the 'ancestor of Guanzhong Tower Temple', and is an ancient site from the Northern and Southern Dynasties to the Qing Dynasty. Now, entering from the south gate, the Bronze Buddha Hall, the Great Buddha Hall, etc., still follow the architectural layout of the Tang Dynasty tower courtyard. The brick tower is octagonal, with a total of 13 levels, which is a later renovation. In the newly opened Famen Temple Cultural Scenic Area, the diamond-shaped tower, when we went, the sky was even darker, with light rain mixed with light snow, so we could only take a blurry photo, which is a bit regrettable.
Famen Temple in Baoji, recommended tour route
Famen Temple in Baoji has two entrances, one is the old entrance at the east gate, and the other is the new entrance at the south gate (new square entrance). It is recommended to enter from the old entrance, because the essence of the scenic spots are near the old gate, including the old Famen Temple, the underground palace, and the museum of unearthed cultural relics are all close to the old gate. After visiting the old temple, the underground palace and the museum, you can reach the newly built Heshi Stupa in about ten minutes by foot, where the Buddha's relics are enshrined and can be viewed from a distance.
If you want to take a walk in the newly built Famen Square, you can enter from the new gate, but all the way are newly built Buddha statues, and the journey is very long, walking for more than half an hour, the tour value is not high.
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Baoji Bronzeware Museum Travel Recommendations for 2024 (Updated in Jun)
May Day Reverse Tourism | - Be sure to visit 3 niche travel destinations
| - Be sure to visit 3 niche travel destinations. There's less than a week left until the May Day holiday‼️ Does everyone have plans on where to go for fun?
If you don't want to be in a crowd, then you must visit the following 3 scenic and less crowded niche travel destinations💞
Shaanxi, Baoji
This place is the heritage of the Zhou Dynasty, where the beginnings of Chinese etiquette are buried. With a history of three thousand years, it is known as the 'hometown of the Yan Emperor, the land of bronzes', and the earliest use of the word 'China' appeared on the He Zun, which was unearthed in Baoji...
🍜Food Recommendations:
Biangbiang noodles, Saozi noodles, Douhua bao mo, Water chestnut... Baoji's cuisine attracts numerous foodies with its unique flavors and rich variety, not only the pride of Baoji locals but also attracting countless tourists from other places to taste
🏕️Must-visit Attractions:
Taibai Mountain National Forest Park, Famen Temple Cultural Scenic Area, Baoji Bronze Ware Museum, China Stone Drum Park, Xifu Old Street, Guanshan Grassland, Huangbaiyuan, Dashuichuan, etc. Not only are the views beautiful with fewer people, but they also have a long history, making them absolute must-visit destinations
Sichuan Guangyuan
This place is on the northern edge of the Sichuan Basin, a vital passageway to the northwest region. Li Bai's famous line: 'The road to Shu is hard, harder than climbing to the sky' refers to here. As one of the important birthplaces of the Three Kingdoms culture, Guangyuan has a long history and boasts numerous natural and cultural landscapes
🍱Food Recommendations:
Water chestnut cake, candied lotus root, Yongchun chicken, Douban fish, Xiu Niang mountain city hotpot, Yibin burning noodles, dry dishes, etc., all represent the unique culinary culture of Shu
🎇Must-visit Attractions:
Jianmenguan, Qingmuchuan Ancient Town, Bailong Lake, Mingyue Gorge, and other places are not to be missed when traveling to Guangyuan. Jianmenguan is known for its steepness, Qingmuchuan Ancient Town is full of historical and cultural atmosphere, and the natural scenery of Mingyue Gorge is also worth a visit
Shaanxi, Hanzhong
This place is in the southwest of Shaanxi Province, known as the 'birthplace of the Han dynasty' and 'China's treasure basin'. It is a critical point on the ancient Silk Road and one of the important birthplaces of the Three Kingdoms culture, with rich cultural heritage such as the Hanzhong Museum and Hanzhong Ancient City...
🍥Food Recommendations:
Hot rice noodles, walnut flatbread, spicy chicken, Zhenba bacon, potstickers, Jiangshui noodles, Shangyuan Guan red bean tofu... Hanzhong's cuisine has been passed down through generations and contains extremely important historical value, with several items listed in the Shaanxi Province Intangible Cultural Heritage list
🎢Must-visit Attractions:
Ancient Hantai, Shimen Plank Road, Huayang Scenic Area, Xinghan Victory Land, Zhuge Ancient Town, Foping Panda Valley, Liping National Forest Park, Tianhan Wetland Park, etc. Each of these attractions has its own characteristics and is worth a visit
If you want to travel during May Day but don't want to be in a crowd, the above three niche travel destinations are enough to enjoy the entire May Day holiday! Put down your studies and work, and set off right away!
Baoji, the Hometown of Bronzeware: Visit the China Bronzeware Museum
Baoji, formerly known as Chencang, is located at the western end of the Guanzhong Plain, at the head of the Qinchuan area, and is strategically situated at the gateway to the Qinling Mountains, surrounded by a thousand rivers and embracing the Wei River. Three thousand years ago, the Zhou people came to this land, where billowing purple smoke rose, and streams of copper-tin alloy poured forth, casting a large number of bronzes. Since the Han Dynasty, bronzes have been unearthed continuously, with a quantity and quality of fine pieces that are unparalleled in the country, and with inscriptions of significant content, earning it the reputation of 'Hometown of Bronzeware.' Chencang also became a major channel for cultural exchange and integration in ancient times.
The Shigu Mountain in Baoji once unearthed the Han script carrier: 'Stone Drums,' and the 'Stone Drum Script' engraved on them represents an important stage in the recording of history by Chinese characters, just as the inscriptions on bronzes: 'Bronze Inscriptions' do.
To protect and inherit this historical stage of cultural resources, the Baoji Municipal Party Committee and Government built the 'China Stone Drum Park' on Shigu Mountain. In 2009, the Stone Drum Pavilion on the mountain top was completed and opened; in 2010, the original cultural relics office's bronzeware exhibition room was expanded on the hillside to become China's largest: China Bronzeware Museum, which was completed and opened (now a national first-class museum). The exhibits in the museum showcase the wisdom and talent of the ancients, and their exquisite craftsmanship is breathtaking.
The China Stone Drum Park on Shigu Mountain consists of two attractions: the Stone Drum Pavilion and the Bronzeware Museum, which together highlight Baoji's long-standing historical and cultural status in ancient Chinese civilization. They also perfectly combine Stone Drum culture with Bronzeware culture. Walking between the exhibition rooms, it feels like a world full of mysterious legends, where each exhibit exudes a fascinating historical charm, a palace that witnesses history.
Upon leaving the museum, walking down the spacious stone steps out of the main gate, you will find Baoji's ancient: Chencang Old Street. On New Year's Day, the street is bustling with visitors, lively and festive, with lanterns and streamers, a scene of holiday joy.
Xi'an Surrounding Tour | Baoji Bronze Ware Museum, it's so worth a visit!
👍Most recommended: Baoji is known as the hometown of bronze ware, and Baoji Bronze Ware Museum is also called "China Bronze Ware Museum". A "national" museum in a fourth-tier city is definitely worth a visit👍👍👍
❤Reason for recommendation: The exhibition hall is built on the mountain in Shigushan, which is also the place where the national treasure Qin Shigu was unearthed, and it is very imposing. The exhibits inside are mainly bronze wares, most of which are found in cellars. The Yangjiacun cellar and Zhuangbaicun cellar support most of the museum, so the preservation condition is very good. The collection covers various periods from Xia, Shang and Zhou to Qin and Han, with a total of tens of thousands of pieces. There are seven exhibition halls in total, and the essence of the collection is in the first and second exhibition halls.
🌟Treasure of the museum!
He Zun: China's first batch of cultural relics prohibited from going abroad for exhibition, national first-class cultural relics, and also the most worth seeing national treasure here. The inscription on He Zun has 12 lines and 122 characters, among which "Zhai Zi China, He Yi Wei Zun" is the earliest written record of the word "China".
Wang Pan: The bronze ware of the Western Zhou Dynasty unearthed after the founding of New China has the most inscriptions, and it is the first plate in China, which is prohibited from going abroad for exhibition. The inscription mentions 12 Zhou kings, outlines the general outline of the history of the Western Zhou Dynasty, confirms the records of the Historical Records, and has significant academic significance.
Guan Gui: The largest bronze gui in the Shang and Zhou Dynasties, known as the "King of Gui", is a national cultural relic prohibited from going abroad for exhibition, and it is an item from the period of King Zhou Li.
Wang He: A bronze ware from the middle of the Western Zhou Dynasty, an ancient wine or water container, a national first-class cultural relic. A utensil that combines dragon, phoenix and tiger.
Dan Wufu Pot: A wine container, a very exquisite pot, you can also see the original golden color of bronze.
Qin Gong Bell: A bronze musical instrument from the Spring and Autumn Period, with the inscription "Qin Gong made and used the bell", it is an important relic before Qin Shihuang unified the six countries.
▶️There are also Wang Ding in the 42nd year of the Western Zhou Dynasty, a standard instrument in the time of King Xuan of the Western Zhou Dynasty, the inscription is a complete book of titles in the Western Zhou Dynasty; the gatekeeper Ding of the amputated man, an important evidence of punishment in the Western Zhou Dynasty; Jing Ji's single-pillar pan Ding in the Western Zhou Dynasty, similar to today's small hot pot, the only one in the Western Zhou Dynasty bronze ware; Bo Ge You, the highest level of bronze casting in the early Western Zhou Dynasty......
💗Come to Baoji Bronze Ware Museum to explore the history of thousands of years and feel the charm of bronze civilization! Remember to make an appointment in advance!
Baoji!!!
Baoji is a historic city in Shaanxi Province, China, with many rich cultural heritage and natural landscapes. Here is a description of the experience of playing in Baoji:
I came to Baoji, this historical and cultural city, and first went to the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor Museum, known as the "crown of Eastern sculpture art display". In the museum, I saw a large number of precious Qin Dynasty cultural relics and tomb excavated cultural relics, the most impressive of which was the Terracotta Warriors and Horses of the First Emperor of Qin. These lifelike pottery figurines are masterpieces of ancient Chinese pottery figurine art, which made me deeply feel the brilliance of ancient civilization.
Then, I went to another famous scenic spot in Baoji - Famen Temple. Famen Temple is one of the founding places of one of the six sects of Chinese Buddhism, Zen. The Daxiong Hall in the temple preserves a large number of ancient Buddhist cultural relics and artworks. The most famous are the hanging bells and drums and Ming Dynasty murals, which are breathtaking. The quiet atmosphere in the temple made me feel the profound connotation of Zen, which makes people feel peaceful.
In Baoji, I also visited the Bronze Museum, which collects a large number of ancient bronzes, showing the brilliant brilliance of ancient Chinese bronze civilization. In the museum, I saw bronzes of various shapes and exquisite craftsmanship, as well as important witnesses to ancient social politics, economy, religion, etc., and deeply felt the glory of ancient Chinese civilization.
In addition to historical and cultural sites, Baoji also has many natural landscapes worth visiting. I went to Zhongnan Mountain, which started in the Han Dynasty. This is one of the famous mountains of Chinese Taoist culture. There are quiet ancient roads and winding mountain streams on the mountain, as well as many ancient Taoist temples and temples, which are refreshing. Climbing to the top of the mountain and overlooking the beautiful scenery of the entire Baoji city, I felt the greatness and magnificence of nature.
In the experience of playing in Baoji, I deeply felt the brilliance of ancient civilization and the tranquility of nature. This city has a rich historical and cultural heritage and natural landscapes, giving people a deep inner experience. Whether it is visiting museums, touring ancient sites, or climbing mountains and wandering in nature, you can feel the unique charm and power of Baoji.
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Travel Recommendations for 2024 (Updated in Jun)
Famen Temple (51): Han Yu's Memorial on Advising Against the Welcoming of Buddha's Relics
Emperor Xianzong of Tang, Li Chun, reigned from 806 to 820 AD. Xianzong reduced redundant staff, established rituals, reopened the military examinations, exploited the contradictions between the regional military governors to successively pacify them, and developed production and rectified the malpractices of the times, leading to a temporary revival of the Tang Dynasty. He also hoped to use Buddhism to consolidate his rule, and was a great patron of Buddhism.
In the twelfth month of the thirteenth year of the Yuanhe era, Xianzong issued an edict to dispatch envoys to lead monks to Famen Temple to welcome and venerate the Buddha's relics. In the spring of the fourteenth year (819 AD), the Buddha's relics arrived in the capital. After staying in the forbidden area for three days, they were sent to various temples in Chang'an for veneration. This event is detailed in historical texts such as 'Old Book of Tang: Annals of Emperor Xianzong' and 'Comprehensive Mirror in Aid of Governance'. This welcoming of the Buddha's relics differed from previous occasions in several ways:
Firstly, Xianzong, wishing for the Buddha's blessings on the revival of the empire and for his own ill health, was very devout during the welcoming ceremony, personally 'holding the Buddha's lamp'.
Secondly, the 'Old Book of Tang' refers to the pagoda at Famen Temple as the 'Protector of the Nation' true body treasure pagoda. This change in terminology was not an addition by historians, but originated from the royal family's appellation, indicating that in the emperor's mind, the Buddha's finger relic at Famen Temple was equivalent to a national treasure, and promoting Buddhism was akin to 'protecting the nation'.
Thirdly, the most famous incident during this period was the historical event of 'Han Yu's Memorial Advising Against the Buddha' (Figure 1). Han Yu (768-824 AD), the leader of the eight great masters of the Tang and Song dynasties, was a famous literary figure, thinker, philosopher, and was known as 'Han Changli' and 'Master Changli'. During the reigns of Emperor Dezong to Emperor Xianzong, he held positions such as imperial censor, national academy scholar, secretary in the imperial secretariat, and deputy minister of justice. Seeing the frenzy of Buddhism in Chang'an, where 'nobles and commoners rushed to make offerings, fearing to be the last, and the common people abandoned their work and went bankrupt, burning the tops of their heads and arms in offering', he was deeply concerned and, regardless of personal danger, resolutely presented a memorial advising against it. After reading the memorial, Xianzong was furious and wanted to execute Han Yu with the most severe punishment. Pei Du, Cui Qun, and others strongly advised against it, but Xianzong remained angry. People were shocked and lamented, and even the royal relatives thought the punishment for Han Yu was too severe and pleaded on his behalf. Xianzong then demoted him to be the governor of Chaozhou. (See also part 39 of this series)
On his way to exile, Han Yu reached Lantian Pass, 50 kilometers southeast of Chang'an, and facing his nephew who had come to see him off, he wrote the timeless masterpiece 'Left Transfer to Lantian Pass to Show to Nephew Sun Xiang': 'A single morning's report reaches the ninth heaven, by evening demoted to Chaozhou, eight thousand li away. Wishing to rid the holy dynasty of its ills, willing to spend my declining years in care. Where is my home across the Qin mountains shrouded in clouds? Snow blocks Lantian Pass, the horse cannot advance. Knowing you have come from afar must have a purpose, take care to gather my bones by the miasmic river's edge.'
'Han Yu's Memorial Advising Against the Buddha' and his experience highlight the intensified conflict between Buddhism and Confucianism, with the emperor clearly taking a stand, not only as a believer but also as a 'protector of the Dharma'.
After Xianzong, the reigns of Emperors Muzong, Jingzong, and Wenzong continued to honor Buddhism, without changing the established policy.
—Compiled from Han Jinkes 'Famen Temple Underground Palace' and other related materials
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