Hidden away in the sacred parts of Shanghai, the Jade Buddha Temple is one of the most prominent locations in the city, given its historical and religious significance that cease not to attract many thousands of devotees to its calming shelters all year round. Drawing its essence from both the Pure Land and Chan traditions of Mahayana Buddhism, the temple is said to have been founded in the year 1882.
The temple received its name from the two jade Buddha statues that were to be found there, which were imported from Burma to Shanghai by sea. The sitting Buddha statue was 1.95 metres tall and weighed 3 tonnes while the reclining statue was smaller in size and represented the death of Buddha. In the temple today, one will be able to find a marble statue of a reclining Buddha which is believed to have been donated from Singapore, and must not be mistaken for the reclining jade statue of yesteryear.
A veritable treasure trove of statues of ancient loveliness, here you will find many beautifully sculpted master pieces that have commanded admiration from devotees of many generations. In the Chamber of Four Heavenly Kings, the statues of Maitreya, Wei Tuo Bodhisattva and the Four Heavenly Kings can be found. In the Grand Hall, which is also called the Great Hall, statues of the Three Golden Buddhas, Gods of the Twenty Heavens, 18 Arhats as well as statues of Guanyin, Shen Cai and his 53 teachers glisten in grandeur, making this place truly a wonder to behold. The Jade Buddha Chamber located in the northern section of the temple, on the second floor is indeed one of the key highlights of the Jade Buddha Temple and must not be missed at any rate while visiting this place of ancient beauty and charm.
If you are planning to visit Shanghai, hotel accommodation at resorts such as Millennium Hongqiao Hotel Shanghai can be considered as it is a leading Shanghai city hotel, which also gives ease of access to many of the city’s tourist attractions given its strategically central location.
Pushpitha Wijesinghe is an experienced independent freelance writer. He specializes in providing a wide variety of content and articles related to the travel hospitality industry.