Wuhan >> Original Purity

Attraction Typ: Historic Site

Location: about 10 km from city

Recommend: 4 Star

Original Purity

Original Purity is one of the four biggest temples for Buddhist meditation in Hubei.

Original Purity (Chinese: 归元寺; pinyin: Guī Yuán Sì), also named as Guiyuan Temple, is one of the four biggest temples for Buddhist meditation in Hubei as well as an important Buddhist temple in China. It is located in the west section of Hanyang District in Wuhan City.

Firstly built in the early Qing Dynasty by two monks named Baiguang and Zhufeng on the base of Sunflower Garden owned by a poet, the temple got its name from Buddhist chants: "With purity kept in mind, one has the thoroughfare everywhere". As the time went on, the temple was rebuilt several times, and it was in fashion for a time although its history was shorter than White Horse Temple, the best Buddhist Temple in China. It is famous not only for spreading Buddhism throughout the whole country, but also for perfect architecture, excellent sculpture and rich collection of Buddhist doctrine among Buddhist temples. In 1956 Original Purity was listed as preserved antiques unit of Hubei province and in 1983, it was appointed as one of the key Buddhist temple of Han nationality district in China by the State Council.

Original Purity consists of Daxiongbaodian Hall, Arhat Hall, Sutra Collection Pavilion and so on. Daxiongbaodian Hall is the main hall of the temple, which enshrined the Statue of Sakyamuni. Being as the most characteristic building of the temple, the constructional layout of the Arhat Hall is in the four-in-one-square shape. 500 statues of the disciples Buddha are well preserved in the hall, sitting, standing or reclining with vivid expression. The 500 arhats are now the best-preserved and very high artistic-valued group carvings in China.

In addition, the vegetarian diet made in the Original Purity is very famous, you can taste when you visit there.