Originally built in 242 AD during the Three Kingdoms period, Longhua Temple stands as Shanghai’s oldest temple. Wars destroyed it several times, but most buildings were reconstructed during the Qing Dynasty. Today, Longhua Temple remains a testament to traditional Buddhist architecture.
Longhua Temple occupies over 20,000 square meters. The architectural proportion covers about 5,000 square meters. Along the 194-meter axis are several important halls. These include the Maitreya Hall, Devajara Hall, and Mahavira Hall. You will also find the Three Sages Hall, Abbot’s Hall, and Sutras Keeping Hall.
The Sutras Keeping Hall holds three treasures. These are the Dazang sutras, gold seals, and Buddhist statues. Accessory halls house the Bell Tower and Drum Tower. Both feature hexagonal windows and curved eaves. The courtyard adheres to traditional Buddhist symmetry. It reflects the Chinese concept of beauty.
A venerable copper bell resides in the three-storied Bell Tower. It weighs five tons. The Evening Bell-Striking Ceremony on December 31 is a major Shanghai attraction. Welcoming the New Year with the bell’s sound is memorable. The bell is struck 108 times every New Year’s Eve to bring good fortune to the world.
In front of Longhua Temple stands the Longhua Pagoda. This seven-storied pagoda is 40.4 meters tall. The brick body includes wooden staircases. Each storey is smaller than the one below. Balconies and banisters encircle each level. Bells on the eaves’ corners create cheerful sounds in the wind.
The Longhua Pagoda has been rebuilt several times. Yet, the Song Dynasty style persists. The Longhua Temple Fair coincides with peach blossoms. It occurs on the third day of the third lunar month. Many visitors and pilgrims attend this bustling event. According to local legend dragons visit the temple to help grant people’s wishes at this time.
Longhua Temple’s layout follows a Song Dynasty monastery design. This is known as the Sangharama Five-Hall Style. The Maitreya Hall contains a Maitreya Buddha statue. Another statue shows him as the Cloth Bag Monk.
The Four Heavenly Kings Hall features statues of the Four Heavenly Kings. The Mahavira Hall houses Shakyamuni Buddha and two disciples. A bas-relief carving depicts Guanyin. Twenty Guardians of Buddhist Law are arranged in the front. Sixteen principal arhats stand in the back. The hall includes a bell cast in 1586.
The Three Sages Hall contains statues of Amitabha Buddha. It also features the Bodhisattvas Avalokiteśvara and Mahāsthāmaprāpta. The Abbot’s Hall hosts lectures and meetings. The Bell Tower houses a copper bell cast in 1382.
The Buddhist Texts Library holds sutras and Buddhist works. It also keeps ceremonial instruments, antiques, and artifacts. Longhua Temple’s artworks include statues of arhats and guardians.
The Longhua Pagoda is one of Shanghai’s best-known pagodas. Its octagonal layout features decreasing story sizes. A wooden staircase surrounds a brick core. Balconies, banisters, and upturned eaves decorate the exterior.
Longhua Temple has a somber history. Public executions occurred here in the 20th century. In 1927, the Kuomintang purged suspected communists. Thousands were executed on these grounds. They are commemorated at the Longhua Martyrs Cemetery. During World War II, the Japanese operated an internment camp here.
The temple gardens once featured peach blossoms. Now, the Longhua Martyrs’ Cemetery mostly occupies the garden space. A smaller traditional garden remains near the temple. In late spring, the peach blossoms create a beautiful scene.
J.G. Ballard’s “Empire of the Sun” mentions Longhua Pagoda. It describes the pagoda as a flak cannon tower. Steven Spielberg’s film adaptation shows the pagoda. Longhua Temple remains an active Buddhist temple. It welcomes visitors to experience its rich history and culture.