Daci Temple, also known as the ancient Great Shengci Temple, was built in the Wei and Jin dynasties, flourished in the Tang and Song dynasties, destroyed in the war at the end of the Ming Dynasty, the existing buildings are built in the Qing Dynasty and modern times, and the scale is only a small part of the heyday. In general, the viewing value of the Daci Temple building is not high, and there are few unearthed cultural relics, but its historical symbolism and Zen atmosphere have become important attractions.
Daci Temple has the Patriarch Pavilion, the Tianwang Palace, the Guanyin Palace, the Daxiong Palace, the Dharma Hall, the Tibetan Scripture Building and other buildings. The Tianwang Hall was rebuilt in the Guangxu period of the Qing Dynasty and enshrined Maitreya Bodhisattva and the Four Heavenly Kings. The hall of the Tibetan scripture building enshrines the three saints of Suva, namely Shakyamuni Buddha, Jizo King Bodhisattva, and Guanyin Bodhisattva. The Daxiong Treasure Hall was built in the Tongzhi period and includes the Patriarch Hall and the Zen Source Hall. Nobita is the virtue name of the Buddha, and Bao refers to the three treasures of the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha. There are also many Buddhist scriptures and periodicals for people to pick up and read.
There is a stone tablet in the patriarch's pavilion, called "Tang Chengdu Daci Temple Wuxiang Zen Master Monument", which is set up by the Cisi Zen Tea Research Association and the World East Asia Meditation Institute of South Korea to commemorate Wuxiang Zen Master. The Zen tea created by Wuxiang Zen Master is characterized by the integration of a Zen machine into each procedure of the tea ceremony. South Korea is very respectful of Wuxiang Zen tea, so a special stone tablet is made to commemorate Wuxiang Zen Master. However, now the Zen tea hall of Daci Temple only sells gaiwan tea, and visitors cannot enjoy the Zen tea ceremony.
Daci Temple has a long history, there are many famous paintings of bronze Buddhas, and the cultural relics should be countless, but unfortunately due to the fire, the expansion of the city, the destruction of the Cultural Revolution and other factors, most of them are damaged, leaving only a few cultural relics such as the hall, the head of the Bodhisattva in the Tang Dynasty, and the cups and bowls of the Song Dynasty. The plaque inscribed on the mountain gate of Daci Temple is "Ancient Great Shengci Temple" built by the Qing Dynasty, about 70 centimeters high, about 3 meters long, carved by red stone, magnificent atmosphere. It is rumored that in the Anshi Rebellion, Tang Xuanzong took refuge in Chengdu, and saw the monks of Daci Temple giving porridge on the street and relieving the people, and was deeply moved, so he gave it the name "Great Shengci Temple". Historically, there have been countless Buddhist temples, but there are very few temples that can give the emperor a name.
The most well-known history of Daci Temple is the experience of the monk Xuanzang studying here. According to legend, during the reign of Tang Wude, Xuanzang received full ordination in the Law Institute of Daci Temple in Chengdu. Ordination refers to the precepts that a family member should accept and follow when they become a monk and join the Sangha. Xuanzang lived in Chengdu for nearly 5 years, during which he studied Buddhist scriptures, and often preached in temples such as Daci Temple, which was admired by the Shu people. However, Xuanzang's experience of being ordained in Daci Temple is not supported by very accurate historical data, and tourists cannot see the traces left by Xuanzang in Daci Temple.
Most temples are far away from the red dust, while Daci Temple is located in the bustling Taikoo Li business district, and the contrast between the old and new buildings adds a different atmosphere.
Suggested visiting time: half a day
Admission: Free
Opening hours: 8:00-17:30
Tips: 1. It is forbidden to bring flammable, explosive and corrosive materials and controlled knives into the country; 2. It is forbidden to bring meat and food, wear and expose it; 3. Please refrain from making loud noises or taking pictures of Buddha statues.
