Xiantong Temple of Mount Wutai, Xinzhou

Xiantong Temple (显通寺) is located on the north side of Taihuai Town (台怀镇), Wutai County (五台县), Shanxi Province (山西省), and is one of the largest and oldest temples in Wutai Mountain (五台山). It is one of the five main Chan Buddhist temples on Wutai Mountain, ranking first among all temples in the area, and, along with White Horse Temple (白马寺) in Luoyang (洛阳), is one of the earliest temples in China. The temple was first built during the Yongping period of the Eastern Han Dynasty (69 AD) and was originally named Dafu Lingjiu Temple (大孚灵鹫寺). It was expanded during the reign of Emperor Xiaowen of the Northern Wei Dynasty, rebuilt in the Tang Dynasty and renamed Dahua Yan Temple (大华严寺). It was reconstructed at the beginning of the Ming Dynasty, when Emperor Taizu granted it the name “Daxiantong Temple (大显通寺).”

The temple faces south, covers approximately 80,000 square meters, and contains over 400 buildings, most dating from the Ming and Qing dynasties. Seven main halls are aligned along the central axis: Guanyin Hall (观音殿), Wenshu Hall (文殊殿), Mahavira Hall (大雄宝殿), Wuliang Hall (无量殿), Qianbo Hall (千钵殿), Copper Hall (铜殿), and the Sutra Library (藏经阁). The Copper Hall, cast in 1610 (38th year of the Wanli reign in the Ming Dynasty), used 100,000 jin of copper and is one of the best-preserved copper halls in China.

In 1982, the State Council included Xiantong Temple in the list of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units.

Chinese Name: 显通寺
Location: Taihuai Town (台怀镇), Wutai Mountain Scenic Area (五台山景区), Wutai County (五台县), Xinzhou City (忻州市), Shanxi Province (山西省)
Opening Hours: Winter 09:00–16:30; Summer 08:00–17:00
Area: Approximately 80,000 m²
Category: Ancient Architecture and Historical Memorial Buildings
Code: 26
Classification: 11
Era: Ming to Qing

Temple History

Xiantong Temple (显通寺) was first established during the Yongping era (58–75 AD) of Emperor Ming of the Eastern Han Dynasty. After White Horse Temple (白马寺) was completed, two Indian monks, Kashyapa Matanga (迦叶摩腾) and Dharmaratna (竺法兰), traveled from Luoyang (洛阳) to Wutai Mountain (五台山) and built the temple, naming it Dafu Lingjiu Temple (大孚灵鹫寺). Known as the “Second Oldest Temple in China,” it ranks alongside White Horse Temple as one of China’s earliest temples.

  • Expanded during the Northern Wei Dynasty, named Huayuan Temple (花园寺)
  • Rebuilt and renamed Dahua Yan Temple (大华严寺) during the reign of Tang Taizong
  • Reconstructed during the Ming Taizu period, given the name Daxiantong Temple (大显通寺)
  • Further renamed Dajixiang Xiantong Temple (大吉祥显通寺) by Ming Chengzu and Dahuguo Shengguang Yongming Temple (大护国圣光永明寺) by Ming Shenzong, commonly called Yongming Temple (永明寺)
  • In 1687 (26th year of Kangxi, Qing Dynasty), renamed Daxiantong Temple (大显通寺)
  • 1954: Renovation of lateral halls
  • 1956–1957: Renovation of Wuliang Hall (无量殿)
  • 1973: Maintenance funded by Xinzhou municipal government
  • 1974–1977: Renovation of West Chan Courtyard (西禅院)
  • 1976: Converted to Xinzhou Museum site
  • 1979: Renovation of Sutra Library (藏经殿)
  • 1982: Courtyard paving and East Zhang Courtyard repair
  • 1984: Repair of Menglou Granary (梦楼粮仓)
  • 2003–2004: Reconstruction and expansion completed; the new Mahavira Hall (大雄宝殿) covers 999 m²

Architectural Layout

The central axis of the temple features a copper pagoda in front, followed by seven main halls from south to north: Guanyin Hall (观音殿), Great Wenshu Hall (大文殊殿), Mahavira Hall (大雄宝殿), Wuliang Hall (无量殿), Qianbo Wenshu Hall (千钵文殊殿), Copper Hall (铜殿), and Sutra Library (藏经楼), with additional structures such as the bell tower, monk residences, and auxiliary halls.

  • Mahavira Hall (大雄宝殿): Main hall for Buddhist rituals; enshrines three Buddha statues—central Sakyamuni Buddha (释迦牟尼佛), western Amitabha (阿弥陀佛), eastern Medicine Buddha (药师佛)—with eighteen Arhat statues on the sides and Bodhisattvas Guanyin, Wenshu, and Puxian behind.

  • Guanyin Hall (观音殿): Central Guanyin statue, flanked by Wenshu and Puxian Bodhisattvas.

  • Great Wenshu Hall (大文殊殿): Houses seven Wenshu Bodhisattvas, including central Dazhi Wenshu (大智文殊), with protective deity Wei Tuo (韦驮) and eighteen Arhats in front.

Notable Buildings

Copper Hall (铜殿)

The Copper Hall stands 8.3 m high, 4.7 m wide, 4.5 m deep, and was cast from 100,000 jin of copper. Its square plan features double eaves and an interior containing thousands of small Buddha statues, with a 3-foot central copper Buddha. Originally, three copper halls were cast in Jingzhou (荆州) and transported to Emei Mountain (峨眉山), Nanjing Baohua Mountain (南京宝华山), and Wutai Mountain (五台山); today only the Wutai Copper Hall remains. The hall and adjacent pagodas are gilded.

Sutra Library (藏经殿)

Flanking the Copper Hall are two small white double-eaved brick halls. The highest level, the Sutra Library, originally stored scriptures and now serves as a cultural relic exhibition room. Exhibits include Northern Wei gold wind seals, bronze sandalwood Buddhas, Northern and Southern Dynasties stone Guanyin statues, Qing dynasty porcelain and wood carvings, and the rare Huayan Sutra Word Pagoda (华严经字塔) comprising 600,043 characters arranged in the image of a seven-story pagoda.

Wuliang Hall (无量殿)

A two-story brick structure with wooden-style beams, measuring 28.2 m wide, 16 m deep, and 20.3 m high, featuring intricate carvings and three adjoining arches. Houses the Wuliang Buddha and the Huayan Sutra Word Pagoda.

Mahavira Hall (大雄宝殿)

Rebuilt in 1899 (Guangxu 25, Qing Dynasty), a wooden structure used for major rituals, housing the three main Buddhas and eighteen Arhats, with ceremonial instruments for worship and large-scale Buddhist activities.

Great Wenshu Hall (大文殊殿)

Rebuilt in 1746 (Qianlong 11, Qing Dynasty), a wooden hall dedicated to Wenshu Bodhisattvas, housing seven statues with Dazhi Wenshu in the center.

Significance

Xiantong Temple (显通寺) is the first Buddhist temple established on Wutai Mountain (五台山) and serves as the birthplace and development center of Buddhist culture in the region. Its history reflects the evolution of Chinese Buddhism, preserving valuable cultural relics and Buddhist art, offering high historical, scientific, and artistic value.

Cultural Relics Protection

In 1982, Xiantong Temple (显通寺) was listed as a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit by the State Council and later incorporated into the Wutai Mountain ancient architectural complex.

Buddhist Activities

  • December 22, 2017: Over 800 monks and abbots from across Wutai Mountain attended a memorial service at Xiantong Temple for the passing of Elder Yicheng, with chanting of Amitabha Sutra and ceremonial offerings.

  • July 25, 2018: The “2018 Wutai Mountain Buddhist Lecture Exchange” concluded at Jinxiushan Villa (锦绣山庄), featuring 23 monks delivering talks based on Buddhist teachings, demonstrating the scholarly and ceremonial excellence of contemporary monastics.

Travel Tips

Transportation:

  • From Beijing: Take the Jing-Shi Expressway (京石高速公路) to Baoding, then provincial roads via Shunping, Tang County, and Fuping, entering Wutai Mountain via the southern route to Taihuai Town (台怀镇).

  • From Taiyuan: Take the original Taiyuan Expressway to Xinzhou, then Dingxiang County, Wutai County, Rucun, Qingshui River line, and enter Wutai Mountain via the southern entrance to Taihuai Town (台怀镇).