Occupying pride of place in Sichuan Province, the Wenshu Yuan Monastery is the headquarters of the Buddhist Association of Sichuan Province and an iconic temple worthy of exploration.
History
Dating back to the Tang Dynasty, the Wenshu Yuan Monastery was once renowned as the Xinxiang Temple. It was during the Qing Dynasty’s Emperor Kangxi’s era that a Buddhist priest named Cidu visited the temple and lived an ascetic life near the temple until his death and cremation when a sculpture of Wensu (Bodhisattva Manjusri) appeared out of the flames. As Cidu was considered the reincarnated Bodhisattva Manjusri, the temple was renamed Wenshu.
Highlights
The main draw for pilgrims visiting the Wenshu Yuan Monastery is the many ancient relics and artefacts that are contained within the compound. This includes more than five hundred paintings and works of calligraphy by celebrated artists. The Sutra-Preservation Pavilion at the temple is where one will find restored artworks and handwriting showcases of master calligraphers including Feng Zikai, Zhang Daqian and others. The skull of famed Tang Dynasty era monk Xuan Zang is also on display along with the jade Buddha sculpture that was brought from Tibet in 1922. There are nearly 300 Buddha statues in iron, wood, stone and jade at the monastery.
Other Attractions
In addition to the relics, the Wenshu Monastery is also home to picturesque gardens and impressive halls. A tea house where folk performances are on show for tourists is also part of the venue.
How to Visit
Travellers based at Citadines South Chengdu or any similar Chengdu accommodation hub can visit the monastery between 8:30 am and 5:30 pm. Accessible free of charge, the best way to reach the venue is by taking buses marked 55, 16 and 52, which drops one off at the Wenshuyuan Station.
