My final week in China has started and I still have a couple of things on my list. I want to visit the Jade Buddha temple a tranquil retreat in the heart of Shanghai, established in 1882 during the reign of Emperor Guangxu of the Qing Dynasty. It stands as one of the city’s most significant spiritual sites. The temple is divided into two sections: the front courtyard, featuring traditional Song Dynasty-style architecture with prominent halls like the Hall of Heavenly Kings and the Mahavira Hall, and the rear courtyard, home to the multifunctional building. The original temple has been burned to the ground and was rebuild at another site, thus its name. It’s known for its two jade Buddha statues, the temple’s origins trace back to Master Huigen of Mount Putuo, who brought five such statues from Myanmar but left two in Shanghai. The temple remains an active place of devotion, particularly on the first and fifteenth days of the lunar month. A major event is the offering of the first incense on Lunar New Year’s Day, when worshippers gather outside the gates on New Year’s Eve, hoping to secure blessings for the year ahead.
As soon as I entered the temple compound, I really felt the quietness and peacefulness of this little gem, of course a lot of shops around and a couple of tourists still the quiet humming was present. I cannot imagine how it will be on a proper session during the weekend or after Chinese New Year when there’s thousands of Buddhists queueing to get their blessings. I stayed near the main hall in silent, went to a small meditation and enjoyed the beauty of this place.
Om mani padme hum.
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