Jade Buddha Temple, located in weste Shanghai, is a very famous Shanghai attraction. Originally, in 1882, a temple was built to hold two jade Buddha statues brought from Burma by monk Huigen. However, the revolution that overthrew the Qing dynasty destroyed this temple. Fortunately, the two jade Buddha statues were unharmed and was put into a newly built temple in the same location in 1928. This is the Jade Buddha Temple that we know of today which attracts thousands of visitors daily.
Aside from the two jade statues, there is also porcelain artwork that makes the temple especially worth seeing. The two Buddhas, the Sitting Buddha and the Recumbent Buddha, are carved with whole white jade. The clear white jade makes the statues especially remarkable. The Sitting Buddha is 190 centimeters tall and encrusted by agate and emerald. It portrays the Buddha at the serene and peaceful moment when he is meditating. The Recumbent Buddha is 96 centimeters long, lying on its right side with the right hand supporting the head and the left hand resting on left leg in a position called the 'lucky repose'. The Buddha carries the peaceful expression, which reflects his content mood as he was leaving the world. There is also another Recumbent Buddha, which is four meters long and was brought from Singapore by the tenth abbot of the temple in 1989. Additionally, there are countless other ancient paintings and Buddhist scriptures throughout the temple.
Although the temple is not very old, its architectural style exudes old Chinese culture making it a unique sight in mode Shanghai. Devajara Hall, Mahavira Hall and Jade Buddha Tower comprises of the main temple structures while off the sides lies the Kwan-yin Dian Hall, the Amitabha Dian Hall, the Zen Tang Hall, the dining room and the Recumbent Buddha Hall. You can find the Sitting Buddha in the Jade Buddha Tower where you will find over 7,000 Dazang sutras. Even if you are not a Buddhist, the Jade Buddha Temple is a must-see because it provides a great sanctuary from the active city of Shanghai.
