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 Located
in the city of Shanghai and as one of its famous Buddhist temples,
Yufo Temple belongs to the Chan sect, and has a history of over
one hundred years.
During the reign of Emperor Guangxu, Monk
Huigen from Putuo Mountain, on his way home after paying homage
to Buddha in India, brought back from Myanmar 5 jade statures of
Buddha of various size, and left in Shanghai 2 white-jade
statues of one seated and one reclining of Sakyamuni for the
specially built temple in Jiangwan, hence the name of the
Temple. It was moved to the present address in 1918. Yufo Temple
constructed in the style of the palace architecture of the Song
Dynasty comprises the Hall of Heavenly King, the Precious Hall
of Sakyamuni, the Hall of Reclining Buddha, the Pavilion of Jade
Buddha etc.
As one of most precious relics in the Temple,
the seated jade statue, 1.9 meters high and carved out of a
single piece of jade stone has the image of a solemn Buddha and
is reputed as a gem of Buddhist art works. Housed in the middle
of the Pavilion of Jade Buddha, the seated statue of Buddha is
decorated with dazzling Buddhist lights and gold girdles.
Enshrined in the main room of the Hall of Reclining Buddha, the
reclining statue of white jade, 0.96 meter long and lying on his
side on a mahogany couch, is the image of Sakyamuni in nirvana
with a serene and self-possessed expression.
Here the air is heavy with smoke of
burning incense all the year.
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