Jade
Buddha Temple
Located in the city of
Shanghai and as one of its famous Buddhist
temples, Yufo Temple belongs to the Chan
sect, and has a history of over one hundred
years.
During the reign of Emperor Guangxu, Monk
Huigen from Putuo Mountain, on his way home
after paying homage to Buddha in India,
brought back from Myanmar 5 jade statures
of Buddha of various size, and left in Shanghai
2 white-jade statues of one seated and one
reclining of Sakyamuni for the specially
built temple in Jiangwan, hence the name
of the Temple. It was moved to the present
address in 1918. Yufo Temple constructed
in the style of the palace architecture
of the Song Dynasty comprises the Hall of
Heavenly King, the Precious Hall of Sakyamuni,
the Hall of Reclining Buddha, the Pavilion
of Jade Buddha etc.
As one of most precious
relics in the Temple, the seated jade statue,
1.9 meters high and carved out of a single
piece of jade stone has the image of a solemn
Buddha and is reputed as a gem of Buddhist
art works. Housed in the middle of the Pavilion
of Jade Buddha, the seated statue of Buddha
is decorated with dazzling Buddhist lights
and gold girdles. Enshrined in the main
room of the Hall of Reclining Buddha, the
reclining statue of white jade, 0.96 meter
long and lying on his side on a mahogany
couch, is the image of Sakyamuni in nirvana
with a serene and self-possessed expression.
Here the air is heavy with smoke of burning
incense all the year round and the sound
of scripture-chanting never comes to an
end.
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