Baoguo Temple (Mount Emei)

Baoguo Temple (simplified Chinese: 报国寺; traditional Chinese: 報國寺; pinyin: Bàoguó Sì) is a Buddhist temple located on Mount Emei, in Emeishan City, Sichuan, China.[1] It is the site of the Buddhist Association of Mount Emei. The temple mainly enshrines Buddhist deities as well as deities of both Confucian and Taoism, which makes rarely seen temple of three religious.

Baoguo Temple
报国寺
The Shanmen at Baoguo Temple.
Religion
Affiliation	Buddhism
Leadership	Shi Yongshou (释永寿)
Location
Location	Mount Emei, Sichuan
Country	China
Shown within Sichuan Baoguo Temple (Mount Emei) (China)
Geographic coordinates	29°34′28″N 103°27′00″E
Architecture
Style	Chinese architecture
Founder	Mingguang (明光)
Date established	Wanli period (1573–1619)
Completed	Wanli period (1573–1619)

History

The temple traces its origins to the former Huizong Hall (会宗堂), founded by Mingguang (明光) in the Wanli period (1573–1619) of the Ming dynasty. During that time, the temple enshrines deities of the three religious with Samantabhadra in the middle, Taoist ancestor Guangchengzi and Confucian ancestor Lu Tong on the left and right sides. This reflects the prevailed idea of Three Teachings Harmonious as One in the Ming and Qing dynasties.[2]

In the reign of Shunzhi Emperor in the Qing dynasty, monk Wenda (闻达) moved the temple to the present site.[2]

In 1703, in the Kangxi era, Kangxi Emperor named it "Baoguo Temple".[3]

The temple was enlarged in 1866 by monk Guanghui (广惠).

Baoguo Temple was inscribed as a National Key Buddhist Temple in Han Chinese Area by the State Council of China in 1983.

Architecture

The Mahavira Hall.

The Buddhist Texts Library

Now the existing main buildings include the Shanmen, Hall of Maitreya, Mahavira Hall, Seven Buddha Hall and Buddhist Texts Library.[3]

Shanmen

Under the eaves is a plaque with the Chinese characters "Baoguo Temple" written by Kangxi Emperor and inscribed by calligrapher Wang Fan.

Hall of Maitreya

In the center of the hall enshrines the statue of Maitreya with Skanda standing at his back.

Mahavira Hall

The Mahavira Hall enshrining the Three Saints of Hua-yan (华严三圣). In the middle is Sakyamuni, statues of Manjushri and Samantabhadra stand on the left and right sides of Sakyamuni's statue. The statues of Eighteen Arhats sitting on the seats before both sides of the gable walls.[4]

Seven Buddha Hall

Behind the Mahavira Hall is the Seven Buddha Hall enshrining the statues of Kassapa Buddha, Kakusandha Buddha, Sikhī Buddha, Vipassī Buddha, Vessabhū Buddha, Koṇāgamana Buddha and Sakyamuni Buddha.[3]

At the back of the hall are statues of Guanyin and Mahasthamaprapta. Longnü and Shancai are placed on the left and right sides.

Hall of Samantabhadra

The Hall of Samantabhadra houses a statue of Samantabhadra on the back of white elephant.

Huayan Pagoda

A fourteen story, 6-metre (20 ft) tall, Ming dynasty bronze pagoda named "Huayan Pagoda" (华严塔) is preserved in the temple. The body is carved with Avatamsaka Sutra.

Bell

The bell was cast by Huizong Biechuan (慧宗别传) in 1564 in the late Ming dynasty. It is 2.8-metre (9 ft 2 in) high and weighting 12.5-kilogram (28 lb). It sounds deep and sonorous when beaten. Outside of the bell cast over 60 thousand words of Āgama and other Buddhist scriptures.[4]

References

1. Zhang Yuhuan (2012), p. 237.
2. Zhang Yuhuan (2012), p. 238.
3. Zhang Yuhuan (2012), p. 239.
4. "Baoguo Temple". emsfj.com (in Chinese). 2015.

Bibliography

• Zhang Yuhuan (2012). "The Complex of Confucian, Buddhism and Taoism: Baoguo Temple on Mount Emei" 《儒释道三教会宗：峨眉山报国寺》. 《图解中国著名佛教寺院》 [Illustration of Famous Buddhist Temples in China] (in Chinese). Beijing: Contemporary China Publishing House. ISBN 978-7-5154-0135-5.