Da Ci'en Temple in Xian

Da Ci’en Temple, Xi’an: Walk Into the Monastery Where Xuanzang Translated the Buddhist Scriptures
In southern Xi’an stands a temple whose story began with an emperor’s devotion to his mother, but whose destiny was transformed by the arrival of a Buddhist monk.

This is Da Ci’en Temple (大慈恩寺).

For many visitors, the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda is the main attraction. They take photos in the north and south squares, admire the ancient brick tower, and then move on. Yet there is an important detail that is easy to overlook:

The Giant Wild Goose Pagoda stands inside Da Ci’en Temple.

And the temple itself is where much of this story truly began.

Da Ci’en Temple is regarded as the ancestral home of the Yogacara tradition of Chinese Buddhism, also known as the Faxiang School or Ci’en School. It was one of the principal places where the monk Xuanzang translated Buddhist scriptures after returning from India, and it was among the grandest imperial Buddhist monasteries in Tang Chang’an.

If you want to experience the spiritual world of the Tang Dynasty in Xi’an, step through the temple gate.

Here, the pagoda was built for a monk’s scriptures, the monastery was founded by an emperor, and you are standing where seventeen years of pilgrimage were ultimately transformed into thousands of pages of Buddhist texts.

An Imperial Temple Built for a Mother

The story of Da Ci’en Temple begins with filial devotion.

In 648, during the 22nd year of the Zhenguan era, Crown Prince Li Zhi—who would later become Emperor Gaozong of the Tang Dynasty—established the temple on the former site of Wulou Temple to commemorate his mother, Empress Wende.

He named it Da Ci’en Temple, meaning the Temple of Great Compassion and Gratitude.

The original complex was enormous, with more than ten courtyards and nearly 2,000 rooms. It became one of the most magnificent imperial Buddhist temples in Tang Chang’an.

But the temple's importance would soon go far beyond its status as a royal monastery.

That transformation came with Xuanzang.

After returning from his pilgrimage to India, Xuanzang was invited to stay at Da Ci’en Temple and was appointed a senior monk. A special Translation Institute (翻经院) was established for his work.

From that moment, Da Ci’en Temple became one of the most important centers of Buddhist translation in Chinese history.

Xuanzang and his assistants translated a vast body of Sanskrit Buddhist literature here. His foremost disciple, Kuiji, later promoted the Yogacara teachings and became one of the founders of the Faxiang School, which became closely associated with Da Ci’en Temple and was therefore also known as the Ci’en School.

Kuiji himself became known as the “Ci’en Master.”

Xuanzang, meanwhile, became closely identified with the temple and was revered as the Tripitaka Master of Da Ci’en Temple.

From then on, the name of one temple became inseparable from one monk and one major Buddhist tradition.

Seventeen Years of Translation: How One Monk Changed Chinese Buddhism

Inside Da Ci’en Temple, one of the places where you should slow down is the Xuanzang Sanzang Memorial Courtyard (玄奘三藏院).

This is not simply another temple hall. It is a memorial complex built around the life and achievements of Xuanzang.

Through murals, reliefs, historical documents, and exhibits, the courtyard tells the story of his extraordinary journey: leaving Chang’an, crossing deserts, climbing snow-covered mountains, reaching India, studying at Nalanda, and eventually returning to China with Buddhist scriptures.

Seventeen years. Tens of thousands of kilometers. More than a hundred countries and regions.

On a page, these numbers can seem abstract. Standing before the exhibits, however, they begin to convey the sheer scale of the journey undertaken by one monk on foot and horseback across Central and South Asia.

Xuanzang returned to China with 657 volumes of Sanskrit scriptures.

After arriving back in Chang’an, he devoted almost the rest of his life to translating them.

At the Translation Institute of Da Ci’en Temple, Xuanzang and his assistants worked day after day, carefully converting Sanskrit Buddhist texts into Chinese.

One of the greatest undertakings was the translation of the 600-volume Mahāprajñāpāramitā Sūtra, which began in 660 and took almost four years to complete.

When the enormous project was finally finished, Xuanzang held a special religious ceremony to celebrate the completion of the scriptures. This became known as the Great Prajñā Assembly.

When you read Buddhist scriptures in Chinese temples today, many of the texts ultimately trace their Chinese transmission back to translation work carried out during this remarkable period.

The Giant Wild Goose Pagoda: A Tower Built for Scriptures

Standing on the central axis of Da Ci’en Temple is the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda (大雁塔).

In 652, Xuanzang petitioned the imperial court to construct a pagoda to house the Buddhist scriptures, statues, and other sacred objects he had brought back from India. It also provided a safer place to preserve the precious materials from fire.

The original pagoda had only five stories.

It was later rebuilt and expanded during the reign of Empress Wu Zetian, eventually becoming the seven-story structure that stands today, reaching approximately 64.5 meters in height.

The pagoda is built of brick in imitation of timber construction and follows the square, multi-story pavilion style characteristic of Tang architecture. It is widely regarded as one of the earliest and largest surviving Tang-style square brick pagodas.

But some of its most fascinating treasures are not found in its architecture.

Look closely at the stone tablets embedded on either side of the southern entrance on the first level.

On the west side is the Preface to the Sacred Teachings of the Tripitaka of the Great Tang Dynasty, written by Emperor Taizong and calligraphed by Chu Suiliang.

On the east side is the accompanying Record of the Sacred Teachings of the Tripitaka of the Great Tang Dynasty, written by Emperor Gaozong and likewise calligraphed by Chu Suiliang.

Together, the two inscriptions are traditionally known as the “Two Sages and Three Wonders Stele.”

The two emperors personally composed texts honoring Xuanzang’s translation work, while Chu Suiliang’s elegant calligraphy became an important surviving example of Tang calligraphic art.

It is an extraordinary intersection of imperial power, Buddhist faith, literature, and calligraphy.

Climb the Pagoda

Climbing the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda requires a separate ticket, traditionally around RMB 25.

The staircase is narrow and steep, and the higher you climb, the more apparent the texture of the ancient brickwork becomes.

From the upper levels, you can look across Xi’an in all directions, with the Qinling Mountains stretching to the south and the modern city skyline spreading across the north.

Around 4 PM, the afternoon light is particularly attractive for photographing the ancient brick structure.

Da Ci’en Temple Travel Tips

Best Time to Visit

Spring and autumn (March–May and September–November) offer the most comfortable weather.

November is especially beautiful, when golden ginkgo leaves contrast with the ancient pagoda and temple buildings.

Opening Hours

Summer opening hours are approximately 8:30 AM–6:00 PM, with final admission around 5:00 PM.

Winter hours are approximately 8:00 AM–5:30 PM.

For a quieter experience, morning is recommended, when the temple is generally more peaceful and the light is softer.

Tickets

Temple admission is around RMB 40, while climbing the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda requires a separate ticket of around RMB 25.

Advance reservations can be made through the official Da Ci’en Temple WeChat account.

Admission policies and ticket discounts may change, so check the latest information before visiting.

How Much Time to Allow

Allow 2–3 hours for Da Ci’en Temple.

If you want to carefully explore the Xuanzang Sanzang Memorial Courtyard and its exhibits, allow closer to 3 hours.

How to Get There

Take Metro Line 3 or Line 4 to Giant Wild Goose Pagoda Station, then leave through Exit C. The temple is about a five-minute walk away.

The Xuanzang statue in the South Square is one of the most recognizable photo spots in the area. A symmetrical portrait with the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda rising behind the statue is almost a rite of passage for first-time visitors.

Recommended Route

For a route with minimal backtracking:

Temple Gate → Bell and Drum Towers → Mahavira Hall → Giant Wild Goose Pagoda → Xuanzang Sanzang Memorial Courtyard → Xuanzang Memorial Hall

The Xuanzang Sanzang Memorial Courtyard deserves the most time. Don't rush through it simply because the pagoda is the more famous landmark.

Photography Tips

For a classic composition, photograph the Xuanzang statue from the South Square with the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda behind it.

At the south entrance of the pagoda, look for the detailed calligraphy and carvings associated with Chu Suiliang.

Inside the temple, the covered corridors and red walls provide excellent opportunities for quieter architectural photographs.

Simple-colored clothing, modern Chinese-style outfits, or traditional Hanfu work particularly well against the restrained atmosphere of the ancient monastery.

Temple Etiquette

Photography is prohibited in some temple halls, particularly around certain Buddhist statues.

Dress respectfully, avoid excessively revealing clothing, and keep your voice down inside the temple grounds.

If you finish your visit in the evening, head toward the North Square of the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, where the musical fountain is usually scheduled for evening performances. After dark, the illuminated pagoda and fountain create one of Xi’an’s most recognizable night scenes.

Explore the Area Around Da Ci’en Temple

Da Ci’en Temple sits at the heart of the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda Cultural Area, making it easy to combine several attractions on foot.

After leaving the temple, you can explore the North Square and its musical fountain, then visit the South Square and the Xuanzang statue before continuing south toward Datang Everbright City, a lively pedestrian area inspired by Tang Dynasty culture.

If you have more time, the Shaanxi History Museum lies not far to the west of the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda. It is an excellent place to continue exploring the history and material culture of Tang-era Xi’an.

Where Tang Buddhism Still Echoes

From the first bricks laid by Li Zhi in memory of his mother, to the Sanskrit texts painstakingly translated by Xuanzang; from the elegant calligraphy of Chu Suiliang to the pilgrimage route recreated throughout the Xuanzang Sanzang Memorial Courtyard, Da Ci’en Temple connects more than 1,300 years of history.

It brings together an emperor's filial devotion, a monk's determination, and a pagoda's silent endurance.

Da Ci’en Temple is more than an ancient Buddhist monastery.

It is a place where, if you slow down enough, you can almost hear the turning of scripture pages beneath the silence of the old temple.

If you want to discover the spiritual heart of Tang Dynasty Buddhism in Xi’an, step through the gates of Da Ci’en Temple.

Here, the pagoda was built to protect the scriptures, the temple became a center of Buddhist translation, and the story of Xuanzang’s seventeen-year journey continues to live on in the buildings around you.