In the western part of Shanghai , there sits a venerable and famous Buddhist temple -- the Jade Buddha Temple.

In 1882, an old temple was built to hold two jade Buddha statues that were brought from Burma by a monk called Huigen. Although the temple was destroyed during the revolution that overthrew the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), the statues were saved, and a new temple was built at the present site in 1928 called Jade Buddha Temple.

The two precious jade Buddhist statues are not only rare cultural relics but also porcelain artworks. Both the "Sitting Buddha" and "Sleeping Buddha" were carved from one whole white jade stone. The sparkling and crystal-clear white jade gives the Buddhas a beauty of sanctity that makes them more vivid. The Sitting Buddha is 190 cm high and encrusted by agate and emeralds, portraying the Buddha during meditation and enlightenment. The Sleeping Buddha is 96 cm long and lies on his right side with the right hand supporting his head and the left hand resting on his left leg -- a position called "lucky repose". His sedated expression represents the peaceful mood of Sakyamuni when he left this world. In the temple there is also another 4-meter-long Sleeping Buddha brought by the 10th abbot of the temple in 1989 from Singapore. In addition, there are many other ancient paintings and Buddhist scriptures in the many temple halls.

Although the history of the Jade Buddha Temple is not long, its old-style, classical architecture gives the temple a unique and inimitable allure in the modern metropolis. The Jade Buddha Temple is a haven for both Buddhists and laypeople seeking a moment of peace and serenity away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

 Brief history

The Jade Buddha Temple, which was first founded in 1882, contains two Jade Buddha statues that were imported to Shanghai from Burma by sea. As with most modern Chinese Buddhist temples, the current temple draws from both the Pure Land and Zen traditions of Mahayana Buddhism .

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