Nanputuo Temple

Nanputuo Temple is located in Xiamen, Fujian Province, covering an area of 258,000 square meters. It is a famous temple in Southern Fujian, situated in front of the Wulao Peaks of the famous Lu Island, backed by a group of unique peaks, facing the clear waters of the southern harbor. The temple mainly worships Guanyin Bodhisattva and remains very popular with worshippers to this day. Nanputuo Temple was originally built during the late Tang Dynasty and the Five Dynasties period, initially called Sizhou Institute. It was rebuilt by the Northern Song monk Wencui and renamed Wuji Rock. It was abandoned during the Yuan Dynasty. It was rebuilt at the beginning of the Ming Dynasty and renamed Puzhao Temple. In 1684, after Shi Lang, the Marquis of Jinghai, recaptured Taiwan and stationed in Xiamen, he donated funds to repair the old temple, which was then renamed Nanputuo Temple. The Sutra-keeping Pavilion houses a vast collection of Buddhist cultural relics, including the 'Ming Dynasty Tripitaka', 'Sha Tripitaka', 'Sutra of Amitabha Buddha', 'Blood-written Wonderful Dharma Lotus Sutra', and other scriptures; there are Tang Dynasty bronze Buddha statues, Burmese white jade reclining and sitting Buddhas, among other Buddha statues. The temple has many attractions, including a life-release pond and a lotus pond in front of the temple, seven white marble Sakyamuni pagodas and two 11-story Wanshou pagodas inside the temple, and the Minnan Buddhist Academy on one side of the temple.