Holy Relic Sites of China-Very interesting!
Buddha’s relic enshrined at a temple on Niushou Mountain in Nanjing
(By Tsem Rinpoche and Stella Cheang)
In Buddhism, holy relics refer to the physical remains or the personal effects of Buddha Shakyamuni preserved for the purposes of veneration. Relics embody the spiritual qualities, compassion and wisdom of the Buddha. Buddhists believe that by making offerings and prayers to Buddha’s sacred relics, they will be blessed and protected. At the same time this allows the fruitioning of beneficial karmic imprints from previous lives, especially those related to the Buddhas and holy beings.
Throughout history, relics have played an important role in major world religions such as Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Shamanism and other religions. For example, in Christianity, sites with the presence of holy relics are major pilgrimage destinations for adherents of the Christian faith because it is believed that the relics can bestow protection and the intercession of the sanctified deceased.
In Buddhism, relics are venerated for similar reasons. After Buddha Shakyamuni entered clear light and was cremated, his relics were highly sought after by the eight royal families of the period. Therefore, in order to avoid disharmony, Buddha Shakyamuni’s holy relics were divided into 10 parts: eight from the body relics, one from the ashes of the Buddha’s cremation pyre and the other one from the container used to divide the relics. These relics were distributed among the eight royal families who promised to enshrine them in stupas and worship them.
The enshrinement of Buddha Shakyamuni’s sacred relics in China started with the tooth relic which is now housed in Lingguang Temple, Beijing. The acquisition of Buddha’s relics reached their peak during the Tang Dynasty. Over a period of 200 years, eight emperors of the Tang Dynasty oversaw this acquisition. These were Emperor Gaozong, Emperor Wuhou, Emperor Zhongzong, Emperor Suzong, Emperor Dezong, Emperor Xianzong, Emperor Yizong and Emperor Xizong. According to the Tang Dynasty’s records, China had 19 holy sites since the time of the Indian King Ashoka. These sites housed various relics of Buddha Shakyamuni. Unfortunately, only a handful of these sites exist today.
Therefore, holy relic sites are rare. Many Buddhists make it their priority to visit these precious relic sites located on and off the beaten path across China. Most of the sites are made famous by the display of Buddha Shakyamuni’s sacred relics, while others are sites that highlight precious Buddhist artefacts and statues. Pilgrimage sites where the Buddha’s relics are venerated attract an increasing number of followers from all over the world. A total of 10 holy sites of China are listed here in this article:
- Tooth relic at Lingguang Temple, Beijing
- Grand True Relic Pagoda at Famen Temple, Shaanxi
- Red Buddha relic discovered at Yunju Temple, Fangshan, Beijing
- Rare skull relic enshrined in Foding Palace, Nanjing
- Buddha’s bone relic at Ayuwang Temple, Ningbo
- Relics unearthed below the Leifeng Pagoda, Hangzhou
- Relics at Tianmen Mountain Temple, Hunan
- Relics at Yunyan Temple, Huqiu, Suzhou
- Relics at Ganlusi Temple, Zhenjiang
- Relics at Tian Tan Big Buddha, Lantau Island, Hong Kong
By making pilgrimages to these holy sites, spiritual aspirants will be able to make a connection with the spiritual qualities of the Buddha and the Buddhist saints in order to further strengthen their spiritual conviction. So while planning for your next holiday, consider incorporating one or more of the places shared here to make the trip both enjoyable and spiritually enriching.
Tsem Rinpoche and Stella Cheang
1. Tooth Relic at Lingguang Temple
Buddha Shakyamuni’s tooth relic in Lingguang Temple
Lingguang Temple, or aptly known as the Temple of Divine Light, belongs to a group of eight Buddhist temples and monasteries scattered across the Cuiwei, Pingpo and Lushi hills at the foot of Beijing’s Western Hills. It houses one of the two precious Buddha Shakyamuni’s tooth relics found in modern times. The other tooth relic is enshrined in Sri Lanka. This 1,200-year-old Buddhist temple is situated in the famous Badachu (Eight Great Sites) at the foot of Beijing’s Western Hills and the place is praised as the most prominent among the eight, though it is not the largest.
According to written records, after Buddha Shakyamuni passed away, among the cremation ashes, four tooth relics were discovered, one of which was brought to Sri Lanka by the Buddha’s disciples. Another tooth relic was brought to Uddiyana (now known as Pakistan) and later to Yu Wen (today’s Hotan County in Xinjiang, China). In the middle of the 5th Century, the prominent monk Fa Xian traveled to Xinjiang and took the tooth relic back to the capital of the Southern Qi Dynasty, Jian Kang (now Nanjing).
After the Sui Dynasty was established, the tooth relic was sent to Chang’an and later moved to the capital (present-day Beijing) of the North Liao Dynasty (907 – 1125). Finally, it was preserved in the Zhao Xian Ta (Immortal-Solicited Pagoda) of Lingguang Temple in 1071.
Zhao Xian Ta (Immortal-Solicited Pagoda) of Lingguang Temple
The octagonal Immortal-Solicited Pagoda is approximately 51m high and has 13 layers. Its base was constructed with white marble, reaching 2.7m above the ground. Within the hall of the pagoda temple is a seven-story structure, and within this structure is another hall in which a vajra seat and painted screen is placed. It is in this second hall where the Buddha tooth relic is now preserved inside a one-meter-high pure gold pagoda.
Today, the Immortal-Solicited Pagoda has become a symbol of Badachu. Whenever someone mentions Badachu Park, people think of the pagoda.
Basic information for tourists
Lingguang Temple’s operating hours are 05:00 to 19:30. Visitors can get there by taking city buses no. 347, 389, 622, 972 or 958 and get off at the nearest terminal, or take no. 489 bus and get off at the Badachu Stop.
2. Grand True Relic Pagoda at Famen Temple
The Famen Temple is located 110 kilometres west of Xi’an in Shaanxi Province. It was originally built by Emperor Ling of the Eastern Han Dynasty and has a 1,700-year history. Famen Temple was originally constructed in the 3rd Century to enshrine Buddha Shakyamuni’s holy relics. During that era, King Ashoka, after uniting India, divided the Buddha’s relics into 84,000 parts and distributed them to different places in order to promote Buddhism. All the places that received the Buddha’s relics were instructed to build pagodas to enshrine them.
Grand True Relic Pagoda at Famen Temple
Buddhism later became very popular during the Tang Dynasty, and many devotees extolled artefacts of Buddhism from ancient times. It is at this time the knuckle of the Buddha’s middle finger came into the possession of the Tang Emperors and was kept at Famen Temple in Xi’an city Shaanxi province. Famen Temple naturally became a royal temple and a sacred place that is admired because of the prized holy relic enshrined inside the temple pagoda. As a matter of fact, the temple pagoda was known as “Grand True Relic Pagoda” because it enshrined the only piece of finger bone relic of Buddha Shakyamuni. The temple was rebuilt during the Tang Dynasty to its largest scale that comprised of 24 courtyards with a capacity of 1000 people.
The knuckle of the middle finger of Buddha’s holy remain
Sadly, half of the pagoda collapsed in August 1981 and in 1986, the government decided to rebuild it. The reconstruction began in February 1987. By May 1987, four relics were found after the opening of an underground palace. The finger bone of Buddha Shakyamuni, two white jade relics and another relic from a famed monk, along with 2,499 national treasures buried during the Tang Dynasty were uncovered after being buried for 1,113 years. The three relics are called “ghost relics” as they were placed together with “true relic” in order to protect the latter. The true relic appeared to be yellow-coloured, with bone-like secretory granules. It was identified by experts to be the true Buddha’s relics.
These unearthed treasures are of great importance in the historical authenticity of early Buddhism. Famen Temple was officially reopened in 1988 and an international Buddhist meeting was held in the same year to pay respect to Buddha’s relics.
Basic information for tourists
The operating hours are adjusted based on the season: from 1st March to 30th November, the temple opens from 08:30 to 19:00; from 1st December to 28th / 29th February, the opening hours are from 09:00 to 18:00. Famen Temple is located in Famen town, 10 kilometres north of Fufeng County. Visitors may want to consider taking Tourist Bus no. 2 at Xi’an Railway Station and getting off at Famensi Museum station. The bus departs at 08:00 and returns at 15:00. Bus tickets cost RMB25. Another alternative is to take Long-distance Bus at Xi’an West Bus Station.
3. Red Buddha Relic Discovered at Yunju Temple
The entrance to Yunju Temple
Also fondly known as Temple of Cloud Dwelling in the West, Yunju Temple was first built in the early 7th Century. It is located in Fangshan District in the southwest of Beijing and is famous for the stone sutras. The temple contains a total of 12 pagodas from the Tang and Liao Dynasties and three tomb pagodas from the Qing Dynasty. Having been reconstructed and enlarged several times, the site became an architectural complex that consisted of five courtyards and six main halls. During the Sino-Japan War, the temple suffered great damage but was restored to its original glory after the war ended.
The Buddha’s relics at Yunju Temple are one of the “three precious” in China and attract worldwide attention. The other two are the Buddha’s sacred relics in Famen Temple and the Buddha’s tooth relic in Lingguang Temple.
The reliquary of the bone relic in Yunju Temple
The Red Buddha’s body relics at Yunju Temple were discovered in Leiyin Cave in 1981 and are the only ones of their kind treasured in a cave as the reliquary (instead of in a pagoda). In addition to the Red Buddha’s relic, two bone fragments believed to belong to Buddha Shakyamuni are enshrined at the site. The two bone fragments were unearthed under the Tiankai Pagoda in Fangshan District of Beijing.
Additional information
The temple showcases an extensive collection of Buddhist texts, of which the best known are the stone sutras. Work to engrave the stone sutras was started by the monk Jing Wan. After Venerable Jing Wan’s death, his work was continued by his students. 1,122 books and 3,572 volumes of Buddhist sutras were inscribed on 14,278 stone tablets. Visitors can see these tablets through the windows of the closet. The stone sutras escaped damage from the Sino-Japan War because they were buried underground.
Yunju Temple also houses a significant collection of paper Buddhist sutras and wooden Buddhist sutras. The collection of paper Buddhist sutras were either printed or handwritten during the time of the Ming Dynasty (1368 – 1644), by Bhikshu Zu Hui. The sutras for which he used his tongue’s blood as ink are considered the most precious. The collection of wooden sutras named Long Zang (Dragon Tripitakas) date back to between 1733 to 1738.
Basic information for tourists
Yunju Temple operates from 08:30 to 17:00 in the summer and from 08:30 to 16:30 in the winter. Visitors can get there by bus no. 836 from Tianqiao in south of Beijing. Entrance tickets are priced at RMB40.
4. Rare skull relic enshrined in Foding Palace
A rare piece of Buddha Shakyamuni’s skull enshrined at Foding Palace
A rare piece of Lord Buddha Shakyamuni’s skull has been permanently enshrined at Foding Palace in Niushou Mountain in China’s eastern Jiangsu province. The relic was unearthed in 2008 when archaeologists found a mausoleum among the ruins of Changgan Temple, which was built in the former Song Dynasty (420 – 479). The holy relic was enshrined at Qixia Temple before finally being moved to Foding Palace on 27th October 2015.
The reliquary, which is almost four feet high and one-and-a-half feet wide, matches the description of the reliquaries commissioned by King Ashoka to house the holy remains of Buddha Shakyamuni. According to written records, King Ashoka collected all the holy relics of Lord Buddha and stored them in pagoda-shaped reliquaries before distributing them to different parts of the world.
Basic information for tourists
Foding Palace is located in Niushou Mountain, Dongshanqiao Town, Jiangning District, Nanjing, China. There is an entrance fee of RMB10 per person to access the Niushou Mountain Forestry Park. It is open daily from 07:00.
5. Buddha’s Bone Relic at Ayuwang Temple
The Ayuwang (Ashoka) temple is located east of Ningbo in Zhejiang Province. The temple sits near the Luhua Peak of the Taibai mountains, one of China’s five important Buddhist mountains. It is the only remaining temple in China named after the Indian king and Buddhist proselytiser. The original temple was apparently built during the Taikang period of the Western Jin Dynasty in 282 CE, though traces of it have long disappeared. Its prized possession is a parietal bone of Buddha Shakyamuni. It is one of the reported 84,000 reliquaries made by King Ashoka, India’s major Buddhist patron. The reliquary is a seven-step stone stupa, about 20 inches high, placed in the Hall of Stupa.
The reliquary of the bone relic enshrined in Ayuwang Temple
According to historical records, King Ashoka, or the ‘King of Zhouli’ as he was known among the Chinese, reportedly considered the area of Ningbo as a place of peace and harmony. Soon Hui Lian, a senior monk, while searching for a place for a temple, heard a sound from the ground. On closer inspection, he found a hot spring and the temple miraculously appeared. The temple began to expand in the following centuries. Finally, during the reign of Emperor Liang Wudi (502 – 549), he renamed it “a yu wang”. Ayuwang Temple still carries the many ‘layers’ today characterised by expansion over the centuries.
The relic hall of Ayuwang Temple, Ningbo
In 1993, when the eastern part of Ayuwang Temple was refurbished, calligraphy from the Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties were also discovered. The temple also has a unique calligraphy collection, including from Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty – a most prolific calligrapher and writer – who visited the site in the 18th Century.
Basic information for tourists
Ayuwang Temple is open for visitors from 08:00 to 16:00 daily. Take the city bus no. 556 or 558, and get off at Ayuwang Stop. Admission is free.
The location of Ayuwang Temple
6. Relics unearthed underneath the Leifeng Pagoda
Leifeng Pagoda is an octagonal five-story tower on Sunset Hill south of the West Lake in Hangzhou, China. Originally constructed in the year 975 CE during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period under the instruction of King Qian Chu of Wuyue Kingdom to celebrate the birth of his son. The structure collapsed in 1924 but was rebuilt in 2002.
During the Ming Dynasty, Japanese pirates attacked Hangzhou. Suspecting the pagoda contained weapons, they burned its wooden elements, leaving only the brick skeleton, as can be seen from West Lake paintings of Ming Dynasty period.
The disrepair of Leifeng Pagoda in the 1920s
Leifeng Pagoda was one of the 10 sites of the West Lake because of the Legend of the White Snake. Due to superstition that the bricks from the tower could repel illness or prevent miscarriage, many people stole the bricks to be ground into powder, further weakening the structure. Hence, on the afternoon of 25th September 1924, the pagoda finally collapsed.
In October 1999, the provincial and municipal governments decided to rebuild Leifeng Pagoda on top of the ruins of the old one. Since it was rumored for years that there was a mausoleum below the structure, a radar was used to investigate and validate its existence. On 11th March 2001, the mausoleum was excavated and many artefacts were found, most notably the gold- and silver-coated hair of the Buddha.
The new pagoda was opened on 25th October 2002, and it became a place of veneration because of the precious relics discovered in the underground chamber.
The Leifeng Pagoda in Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou
Basic information for tourists
Leifeng Pagoda has three types of operating hours according to the season: from 16th March to 30th April it is open from 08:00 – 19:00, from 1st May to 30th October it is opened from 08:00 – 20:00 and from 1st November to 15th March it is open from 08:00 – 17:30. The address of Leifeng Pagoda is 15 Nanshan Rd, Xihu, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China. Take bus line no. Y2, 4, Y6, Y9, 31, 51 (Inner Line), 52 (Outer Line), 87, 287, 291, 315, 334, 822, or the West Lake South Holiday Line, get off at the Jingsi Station, and walk to the site. The entrance fee for an adult is RMB40.
7. Relics at Tianmen Mountain Temple
Precious holy relics on display in Tianmen Mountain Temple
Tianmen Mountain is located in the famous Zhangjiajie city, central China’s Hunan Province. It is known as one of the most beautiful mountains in the world. The floating mountain illustrated in the movie Avatar was inspired by the stunning view from the ‘Heaven Door’ at Tianmen Mountain.
The Tianmen Mountain Temple was first built during the Tang Dynasty as the centre of Buddhism in the area of Western Hunan. The present Tianmen Mountain Temple was rebuilt on the premise of the original site on an area of more than 10,000m sq. It adopted an official style of the Qing Dynasty and the architecture of the Temple is in the style of the grand classical houses of the Qing Dynasty. The Temple is located in the mountain hollow with a magnificent view.
The view of Tianmen Mountain Temple from afar
The temple hosts three relics of Buddha Shakyamuni, and his heart disciples, Venerable Shariputra and Venerable Maudgalyayana. These relics were offered to Tianmen Mountain Temple by the Lumbini Chinese Temple (Zhonghua Temple) on 23rd April 2012.
Basic information for tourists
Tianmen Mountain is located south of Zhangjiajie city. It opens daily from 08:00 to 16:00. Entrance fees are seasonal: from March to November at RMB258 and from December to February at RMB225.
A map showing the location of Tianmen Mountain of Zhangjiajie city in Hunan Province
8. Relics at Yunyan Temple
Tiger Hill, also known as Surging Sea Hill, is a large hillock covering about 3.5 acres (14,100m sq) and only 118 feet (36m) in height. One of the highlights of Tiger Hill is the pagoda that stands on the hill’s summit. It is famously known as the Pagoda of the Yunyan Temple. As the oldest pagoda in the vicinity of Suzhou, it has come to be a symbol of the city and has the distinction of being China’s Leaning Tower.
Yunyan Temple in Huqiu, Suzhou
Built during the Northern Song Dynasty (959 – 961), it is a seven-story octagonal tower following the style of the timber pagodas built during the early period of Tang Dynasty (618 – 907). It is 158 feet (48m) high and for the past 400 years, it has leaned 3.59 degrees to the northwest. In this temple, the legendary ‘secret-coloured ceramic’ artefacts were discovered.
The ‘secret-coloured ceramic’ is a very fine porcelain vessel from the ancient kingdom of Yue which was located in today’s Zhejiang province. It was made for imperial use only. The vessel is 8.9 cm high, sitting on a saucer of 6.6 cm high. The diametre of the upper rim is 14.9 cm, and the bottom is 9.3 cm. Lotus petals were carved on the outer surface of the bowl and the saucer. From the unglazed bottom, one can see the piece is made from very fine clay, and this gives the ware a very pure and even texture. The olive-green glaze brings out a warm lustre similar to jade.
The precious ‘secret-coloured ceramic’ relic
Unfortunately, the recipe to make the ceramic was lost during Tang Dynasty. A poem by Lu Guimeng suggests that this type of ceramic has a green glaze like the “essence of trees from a thousand hills”. It is said to be coloured in a “similar way to Yue celadon, but brighter and lighter”.
Basic information for tourists
The operating hours for Yunyan Temple is from 07:30 to 17:30. Visitors may take bus no. 32 or express line 3 and get off at Huqiu Beimen (North Gate of Tiger Hill) Station. Another alternative is to take bus no. 146 or tourism bus no. 1 or 2 and get off at Huqiu Station. There are admission charges; RMB80 for the months of April, May, July, August, September and October and RMB60 for the months of January, February, March, June, November and December.
9. Relics at Ganlusi Temple
Ganlusi Temple is located in the beautiful Beigushan Hill. This so-called temple is actually more of a residential hall instead of a Buddhist temple. Ganlusi Temple and Beigushan Hill is mentioned the Three Kingdoms literature. During this period, Liu Bei, the King of the Shu State, allied with one of his rivals, the King of the Wu State, by marrying his sister in a small palace (Ganlusi Temple) on this hill and used this alliance to fight with the King of the Wei State. The marriage ceremony took place in Ganlusi Temple, which was actually not a Buddhist temple but a small imperial palace during that time.
The Ganlusi Temple of Zhenjiang in China
In history, many celebrities, socialites and even kings and emperors came to the hill to commemorate these historic figures and places, and they left an enormous amount of historic relics, including calligraphy, poems, scriptures and architecture. Ganlusi Temple was initially erected during the Three Kingdoms period in 222 – 280 CE. It was moved to the Rear Peak of Beigushan Hill from its original place. The temple was destroyed by fire during Yuan Dynasty period and destroyed again by war in the later years. The current structures were re-erected by a local authority in 1890 CE during Qing Dynasty period.
In the 1960s, refurbishment works were carried out on Ganlusi Temple. An underground chamber was discovered at 3.5 feet under the base of Ganlusi Temple and along with it, an unprecedented large numbers of pearl-like precious relics. Out of the 700 pieces of relics, 11 pieces of relics were identified by experts as Buddha Shakyamuni’s.
Basic information for tourists
Ganlusi Temple’s opening hours are from 06:00 to 19:00. The address is 3 Dongwu Road, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu 212000, China. Visitors can take a bus no. 4 and get off at Beigushan Hill. Entrance tickets are priced at RMB32.
10. Relics at Tian Tan Big Buddha
The world’s tallest outdoor seated Buddha; Tian Tan Big Buddha Statue
Po Lin Monastery is the home of three big golden Buddha statues as well as a 34-metre high, 250-ton bronze Buddha statue called the Tian Tan Buddha. Completed in 1993, it is the world’s tallest outdoor seated bronze Buddha and attracts around 1,000,000 visitors per year. The Big Buddha symbolises the harmonious relationship between man and nature, and people and faith.
The statue was constructed from 202 bronze pieces. In addition to the exterior components, there is a strong steel framework inside to support the heavy load. Visitors have to climb 268 steps to reach the Buddha. The Buddha’s right hand is raised, representing the removal of afflictions, while the left rests on his lap in a gesture of generosity. He faces north, which is unique among the great Buddha statues, as all others face south.
Tian Tan Big Buddha Statue sits atop the peak of Mount Muk Yue in Lantau Island, Hong Kong
One of the most renowned events of this place is the Buddhist Relics Exhibition, which is held regularly at the monastery. Many precious Buddhist relics, including the Longcang Sutra and the Monk Huayan Preaching Buddhist Sutras (a painting) are displayed there. There is also a bell in the exhibition hall, which is engraved with figures of Buddhas and the Buddhist sutras. It is rung every seven minutes, 108 times per day. It is said that the power of the bell can ‘cure’ people’s 108 kinds of afflictions.
Basic information for tourists
Po Lin Monastery’s opening hours are from 09:00 to 18:00. It is on Ngong Ping Plateau, Tung Chung Town, Lantau Island. Visitors can catch the ferry from Central Pier 6 (MTR Hong Kong Station Exit E1. Walk through IFC mall) to Mui Wo, then take bus 2. Or from MTR Tung Chung Station Exit B, take bus 23 from Tung Chung Town Centre.
A map showing the location of Tian Tan Big Buddha on Lantau Island
References:
- http://www.chinahighlights.com/zhangjiajie/attraction/tianmen-mountain.htm
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tianmen_Mountain
- http://www.zhangjiajietourguide.com/attraction-p2-tianmen-mountain-national-forest-park.html
- http://selfplannedtrip.com/travel-blog/tianmen-mountain/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leifeng_Pagoda
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Relics_associated_with_Buddha#Relics_in_China
- http://english.shaanxi.gov.cn/articleCulture/culture/historicalrelics/201212/30091_1.html
- http://zhenjiang.jiangsu.net/attraction/premier.php?name=Ganlusi_Temple&city=Zhenjiang&id=127
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiger_Hill_Pagoda
- https://www.travelchinaguide.com/attraction/jiangsu/suzhou/tiger_hill.htm
- http://www.chinahighlights.com/beijing/attraction/lingguang-temple.htm
- http://www.orientalarchitecture.com/sid/114/china/ningbo/ayuwang-asoka-temple
- https://www.travelchinaguide.com/attraction/beijing/yunju-temple.htm
- http://www.tour-beijing.com/blog/beijing-travel/beijing-attractions-tips/buddhas-relics-at-yunju-temple
- http://www.chinahighlights.com/travelguide/buddhism.htm
- http://sputniknews.com/art_living/20160702/1042325764/buddha-skull-recovered-china.html
- http://www.chinatravel.com/beijing-attraction/the-pagoda-enshrining-buddha-tooth-relic-in-the-temple-of-diving-light/
- http://europe.chinadaily.com.cn/culture/2012-12/17/content_16025905.htm
- http://www.whatsoninsuzhou.com.cn/EventsDetail.asp?IDs=861
- http://www.itourbeijing.com/china-travel/ningbo-guide/king-asoka-temple.htm
- http://fodizi.net/qt/qita/8841.html
- http://www.hong-kong-hotels.ws/attractions/giant-buddha.htm#
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Relic
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pilgrimage
- http://www.relicsofbuddha.com/eng/page3.htm
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tian_Tan_Buddha
- https://www.travelchinaguide.com/attraction/hongkong/outlying/polin.htm
- http://www.airporters.net/zhejiang/ayuwang-temple.html
Please support us so that we can continue to bring you more Dharma:
If you are in the United States, please note that your offerings and contributions are tax deductible. ~ the tsemrinpoche.com blog team
Pilgrimage is traditionally done on foot and often takes weeks or months to complete.The pilgrimage is about much more then just the destination however, the journey itself is actually the most important part of the practice.
Now with these knowledge of where some of the relics are located, I will be able to visit the temples holding such precious blessings.Thank you very much for sharing this good article.
Most Chinese people believe in Buddhism. So there are countless religious sites in this vast land. China has such an incredibly long history that it makes sense that there would be a lot of places of interest where holy relics were kept. It would be wonderful to go spiritually enriching, going on pilgrimage to all these Holy scared places as mentioned. Interesting to read with lots of information making the trip much easier . Its amazing there are so many temples where holy Buddha relics been kept. Looking at it merely tells us all and is a blessing connected with the spiritual qualities of the Buddha. Interesting read and beautiful pictures shared.
Thank you Rinpoche and Stella for this wonderful sharing.
China is renowned for its religious diversity. China has so many holy relics which has been persevered centuries ago. Its interesting and blessed looking at it even in pictures. Great to know each individual Holy relics history at different monesteries in China. Going for pilgrimage to any monasteries where housed the Holy scared relics will be a powerful blessing for us all. We will be able to plant the Dharma seeds and be connected to Buddha. Well it’s a good research done to have a knowledge of where some of those Holy relics are located. In recent years archaeologists have uncovered much more Holy relics of thousands years old found in remote parts of China.
Here in Malaysia at Kechara Forest Retreat too has a lot of holy relics and powerful healing energy. The most powerful place of pilgrimage will always be where our Guru resides.
Thank you Rinpoche and Stella for these interesting sharing.
Relics of Buddha Shakymuni have always intrigued me as to how they were preserved and certified. But it had never occurred to me to doubt that they exist. What intrigued me most was how can there be so many relics that can be viewed by us even today in the 21st century, 2,600 years after Buddha Shakymuni.
This article clearly explains how the relics were preserved and distributed by King Asoka to 84,000 places in order to propagate Buddhism and for Buddhists to be blessed by being in the presence of the buildings such as pagodas and stupas built to house them.
Visiting such holy sites in China is a great blessing of a pilgrimage.
Dear friends, there is also a Buddha tooth relic in Singapore, very beautifully enshrined, respected and appreciated by the people and the government of Singapore. It’s very near to us, so it’s a great blessing!
The amount of Buddha relics in China is a staggering indication of how this land China had been pervaded by Buddhism. China was a land that was heavily influenced by the Buddha Dharma, across all stations and levels of society.
May Buddhism once again be infused by the Buddha Dharma and produce dharma teachers for the benefit of the Chinese.
Thank you Rinpoche and Stella for this sharing about 10 holy sites of China having the Buddha Shakyamuni’s sacred relic. It’s really wonderful to see these relics around China. It’s really like going on a virtual pilgrimage tour! Six places stood out to me from this post.
1. Tooth Relic at Lingguang Temple
2. Grand True Relic Pagoda at Famen Temple
3. Red Buddha Relic Discovered at Yunju Temple
5. Buddha’s Bone Relic at Ayuwang Temple
4. Rare skull relic enshrined in Foding Palace
9. Relics at Ganlusi Temple
I sincerely hope we could all help to create the cause for the relics of Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen to be in Kechara Forest Retreat in the future for his lineage to grow again. _/\_
https://twitter.com/tsemtulku/status/779518547072421888
Thank you Stella for writing this informative article. An eye opener for me to learn about the meaning of holy relics preservation and it’s interesting to get to know more about the various holy relics sites located within China.
Thank you Rinpoche and Stella for this sharing about 10 holy sites of China having the Buddha Shakyamuni’s sacred relic.
From this post, 2 places stood out to me :
1. Relics at Tian Tan Big Buddha, Lantau Island, Hong Kong
2. Relics unearthed below the Leifeng Pagoda
The 2 places as mentioned above become more famous because of many of the films and televisions’ producers especially from Hong Kong and China like to choose these 2 places as the shooting location. Therefore, the exposure for these 2 places are become more as compared to the others.
Everyone is encouraged to follow the guidelines from this post to visit these holy places. Through the visit to make offerings and prayers to Buddha’s sacred relics, may everyone be blessed and protected by the Buddha and have the opportunity to plant the karmic seeds to learn and practice dharma in order to achieve the qualities as Buddha.
What I noticed is that China is really preserving the Buddhist sites very well. More and more of these sites are preserved, promoted and maintained very well. This is unique because of the abundance and rich Buddhist traditions in China.
I rejoice and every time I think of China I think of these magnificent sites in my mind’s eye.
China was once a Buddhist country that gives rise to erudite masters and eminent monks who taught and preached the dharma well. As a result, the emperors also took on Buddhism and preserve the dharma by supporting the monastic educations and system. Realizing that the Buddhadharma was taught by Buddha Shakyamuni and the significance of the Buddha’s relics, historically, many emperors of China started to invite the Buddha’s and His disciples’ relics, while others maintained them. Without their efforts, we wouldn’t be able to bless by any of them today!
As we are in the kaliyuga where dharma is less appreciated by many, those who come across dharma or practice it are mostly superficial and minimum. By going to pilgrimage sites with the Buddha’s relics, we received the powerful blessings and purification for dharma to take effects in our mindstream.
While visiting the holy sites is beneficial, the best pilgrimage is the home of our spiritual guide where the living Buddha resides. When we are around our spiritual guide, we receive teachings directly that expedite our purification and transformation process. We should make use of such rare opportunities to learn and improve. Personally, I prefer to venerate my teacher when He is alive than to venerate His relics after He passed.
These holy sites are such a wonderful place to make pilgrimage to, receiving blessing and purify immense karma. The pilgrimage is about much more then just the destination however, the journey itself is actually the most important part of the practice. Pilgrimage is traditionally done on foot and often takes weeks or months to complete. The pilgrimage, like the practice of meditation, is an opportunity to spend a significant amount of time concentrating on self purification.
Thank you for the wealth of well researched information. I didn’t know China has such abundance of holy relics for everyone to visit and make prayers to. I am never a tourist myself but this one of the good reason to travel.
Thank you Stella for this article on relics, it is well known to all Buddhist that relics are found during cremation of very high masters, enlightened beings, Rinpoche and high lamas.
When I was with my previous religious order they held a relic ceremony where close to five thousand attended. I cannot remember which religious person’s relic it was but it was said to be very old and very precious. The relic was encased in a stupa and it was up on the stage beyond the reach of the attendees.
During the ceremony the head abbot recited some prayers and the necessary Buddhist salutation and after a while the relics began to dance up and down in the stupa. The whole dancing was captured in live telecast in the auditorium, it lasted a few seconds, it is really stupendous and defies human logic how this lifeless thing dances.
I have also seen many displays of Buddhist relics of the famous masters where some of the cremated parts of the bone have turned into white shinning crystal like substances.
Thank you Stella for this informative article on the relics at the various sites in China. You provided very good details right down to the opening times and how to reach the place of interest. I wish I was able to read your article soon as I was at the foot of Tianmen Mountain temple and did not make the effort to climb the steps up to the temple. I thought that the attraction was the hole in the mountain that jet planes could fly through. The tour guide mentioned that the steps were steep and he also said a man from Singapore fell to his death due to the slight drizzle that made the steps slippery. As it was drizzling, majority of us decided that view the hole from a far is good enough. Had I known that the temple up the steps had Buddha’s relic, I would most certainly attempted the climb. Would be worth it for the blessings!
Now with these knowledge of where some of the relics are located, I will be able to visit the temples holding such precious blessings when I next have the chance to visit China. May the Buddha’s relics holding such potent energy bless those viewing by triggering of their imprints for the Dharma.
This is a very informative write up which will inspire more people to know about Buddhism especially in Buddha Relic field. There were so many temples in China which enshrined Buddha’s relic.I think is the time to do pilgrimage on these temples.
I hope can visit all these temples in my coming trip.
Thanks Stella for this inspiring write up.
Jason
Thank you Stella for this compilation on the locations of the Buddha’s relics. It’s so interesting that so many relics are now in China, and it is no wonder that Chinese culture has so much Buddhism influence.
To pay homage to a holy site or relic is not a guarantee to enlightenment, because we still have to put in effort to put Buddha’s teachings in practice in order to gain realisation. However paying homage to a holy site or relic is to remind us of how much difficulties Buddha had gone through in the process of gaining realisation of how we can be liberated from sufferings. Thus, we should not give up easily no matter how tough the journey to liberation is. In addition, we also get positive vibes from these holy sites or items so that we can gain more and deeper realisation on Buddha’s teachings.
Dear Sock Wan,
It’s more than just positive vibes. Haha! We gain a powerful blessing of the Buddha at the site of his relics and powerful purification as well. The blessing plants seeds for the Dharma to open in our mindstream and especially if we make powerful Dharmic aspirations at these sites and they will open at a later time when the karma is ripe.
Since most of our Dharma practice is very little or superficial, going for pilgrimage will be a powerful blessing for us. However, in the end, the most powerful place of pilgrimage is not these temple relics but the home of our spiritual teacher. If our devotion is stable and strong enough, our guru’s abode has the most powerful blessings on our mindstream.
Thank you Pastor David for sharing the advantages of getting the blessings from holy relics and pilgrimage so that it will plant the seeds for us to get closed to Dharma or help us to open up our Dharma seeds soonest as well as purification.
When I went to pilgrimage at Nepal early this year, I was asked to make strong aspirations & motivation and do a lot of offerings while I was at the pilgrimage sites, whether it is for ourselves or others.
You brought up a very important point that wherever our Guru is, that’s the most powerful place of pilgrimage. I am so blessed that I am at our Guru’s mandala at Kechara Forest Retreat that has a lot of holy relics and healing energy as well as blessings for me to advance spiritually.
Last but not least, would like to thank Stella and Rinpoche for this article that has very complete information about the temples with holy relics in China. Hope I can be there one day too.
p/s: If you are interested to know more about the pilgrimage trip organized by Kechara, you can click this link to see some of the pictures and contact Kechara Front for the next available trip. http://www.kechara.com/travel/news/blessed-and-fruitful-nepal-pilgrimage-trip/
Dear Stella,
Thank you for the interesting article. I didn’t realise China has so many holy relics! What I noticed is that China is very good in keeping track of history and has a culture of restoring historical buildings. China is very blessed to have possession of Lord Buddha’s holy relics.
For those who like to travel, it’ll be even more beneficial if they include visiting these holy places so that seeds of enlightenment are planted in their mind stream.
Best regards,
JP
Thanks Stella for the comprehensive research on this. Certainly, they will be wonderful places to visit in future. Even the remains of the bodies of enlightened beings can continue to bless and benefit long after they had entered clear light.
China is a place where Buddhism spread after the passing of Buddha. It is a place with many holy places like Mount Wu Tai, Mount Emei etc. However, the temples listed here are also very holy as it contains holy relics of the Buddha. This article provides information that is insightful to travellers who wants to go on a pilgrimage. Before this, I have not heard or know any of these temples.
I hope to visit these 10 temples in the near future.
Tianmen Mountain Temple houses three relics of Buddha Shakyamuni, and his heart disciples, Venerable Shariputra and Venerable Maudgalyayana. I loved the pictures of Tianmen mountains from the first moment i saw it. And, to know that there are these precious relics there is amazing. This is the one place to visit if unable to visit all the sites mentioned above.
But, I guess, all these places that house the various holy relics make great pilgrimage sites and places that we should aspire to visit.
Thanks for the wonderful information contained in this article.
Dear Stella and Rinpoche,
Thank you for such informative article about the holy, relic sites throughout China.
China is a vast country and I am sure there are many more temples that house precious relics from Lord Buddha.
I will definitely want to visit all the sites mentioned.
Thank you.
Wow….interesting and informative article..of.Holy Relic Sites in China .Did’nt know there is so many Holy Relic found in China till i read these.Amazing there is 10 holy sites of China that hosts Holy Relic..I was in Tianmen Mountain south of Zhangjiajie city 3 years back but did not realize that the temple did hosts 3 relics of Buddha Shakyamuni, and his heart disciples, Venerable Shariputra and Venerable Maudgalyayana.Did visited a few temples there but not sure if i have visited the one mentioned. It would be wonderful to know earlier and visit it ….Well now after knowing where those Holy Relic is , i do hope to visit and see it one day.
Thank you Stella and the hard working team for sharing this interesting article.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this interesting post to bless our minds and creating the causes for us to visit the holy relic sites of China. Thank you Stella Cheang for putting the effort and time to compose the rich facts of Buddha Shakyamuni’s relics and other enlightened beings’ relics located at the 10 holy sites in China. These 10 holy relic sites of China has gone through many revolutions during the Chinese Kingdoms and yet, the Buddha Shakyamuni’s relics as well as other enlightened beings’ relic can be found, restored and maintained until today to benefit and bless many sentient beings of our current age with the compassion and kindness from the Buddha since more than 2500 years ago. All the transportation details provided are very beneficial for those travelers who seek for spiritual wisdom and blessings. I am always drawn to the history of ancient China and would like to create the causes and opportunities to visit the holy relic sites in China or other parts of the world. May many people able to visit and pay homage to these holy relics for blessings and protection in spiritual practice.
Thank you with folded hands,
kin hoe
This is amazing relic tourist guide! wish to visit all this places when have time. Thanks!
Hi Rei,
It is very beneficial to venerate these holy relics sites not just for leisure sightseeing but also to get blessing for yourself and your family members too.
Yes. We went to Hongfa Temple in shenzhen and Guiyuan Temple in Wuhan.
I make a wish and pray for guidance of my life from Buddha. 🙂