“Repose, purity and peace” is what you will find at Chong’en Temple. Let me tell you a story about this special place. It stands in stark contrast to Shanghai’s bustling shopping malls and skyscrapers.
Chong’en Temple was once known as Bubbling Well Temple. This earlier name came from an ancient well that bubbled day and night in front of it. The well was filled in the 1960s. But the temple remains and has grown grander.
The temple was first named Hudu Chongyuan Temple. During the Tang Dynasty it was renamed Yongtaichan Temple. In 1008 during the Song Dynasty it received its current name Chong’en Temple.
Originally on the bank of the Wusong River it faced constant river waves. A flood in 1216 caused it to crash. The temple was then moved to the bank of Bubbling Well Creek. This is where 1686 Nanjing Road W is today.
The ancient temple expanded significantly in the Yuan Dynasty. It became known for its beauty. One of its eight famous scenes was the Bubbling Well. It was acclaimed as the “Sixth Spring of the Earth.” While the eight scenic spots disappeared over time they were revived in Jing’an Park.
Temples in ancient China were places for writers. They would write down their thoughts and feelings. Poems about the Jing’an Eight Scenes were collected. The temple drew many visitors who wrote about their tours in records or poems.
An expatriate A. G. Hickmott wrote about his visit in 1923. He described the Bubbling Well with its muddy water carbonic acid and marsh gas. He found the temple clean and well-kept. However it was handicapped by lack of funds. He noted the main building dated back about 1000 years. He called it the “Temple of Repose Silence Purity and Peace.”
Hickmott described three brother gods of Heaven Earth and Water. They were dressed in scarlet robes. Inside the main temple was a golden Buddha sitting on lotus leaves. The doors tables shrines and gods were well-carved. He found the brocades curtains and tapestries beautiful.
The monks were about to meet for evening prayer when Hickmott entered. The abbot struck his bell three times and began the service. Another monk struck a wooden shell drum. The monks chanted murmured and sang.
Chong’en Temple became a place for urban religious life. This was especially seen in the annual temple fair. During the Buddhist Bathing Festival monks bathe Buddhist statues. They use fragrant water and chant scripts for blessings.
The temple was in Shanghai’s western suburbs. Its Buddhist festival attracted villagers. They burned joss sticks and prayed for good life. They brought agricultural products and handicrafts to sell or trade. Peddlers set up stalls around the temple. This grew into an annual temple fair for pilgrims tourists and shoppers.
During the fair’s peak in the 1920s and 1930s nearby streets were crowded with stalls. The fair declined after 1937 and ended after 1963. The temple fair contributed to the area’s economy. It helped urban and country people exchange products. It reflected the area’s time background and social condition.
A large-scale renovation of Chong’en Temple took place from 2000 to 2011. Today the temple covers 9705 square meters. It includes a bell tower a drum tower a main gate and a main hall.
The main hall is 26 meters high. It has 46 teak wood columns and a copper tile roof. The centerpiece is a 15-ton silver Buddha statue. The ground floor can hold 1000 people for ceremonies. An underground bibliotheca covers 1000 square meters.
Twenty to thirty monks operate the temple along with many volunteers. Around 1000 visitors come daily including foreign tourists and expatriates. The temple serves as a center for international Buddhist cultural exchange. Delegations come from the US Europe Japan South Korea and Southeast Asia.
Chong’en Temple once had a Buddhist school. Today it attracts professionals who want to learn about Buddhism. The temple promotes the wisdom and mercy of Buddhism. It improves health harmony and stability. The temple also does charity work.
On the ground floor of the bell tower is a revived bubbling well. It is a replica of the “Sixth Spring of the Earth.” From the outside Chong’en Temple appears golden and extravagant. The inner yard offers a serene and peaceful atmosphere. It truly embodies its name repose purity and peace.