architecture

Shanhua Temple, Precious Hall of the Great Hero

Datong, Shanxi, China

大雄寶殿 (dàxióngbǎodiàn) [Chinese]

Architecture

The Great Buddha Hall was constructed during the Liao Dynasty. It is the third-largest extant Buddhist hall of ancient China. The structure stands on a broad platform, measuring 2.24 meters in height, which is flanked by a bell tower and a drum tower. The hall houses thirty-four clay sculptures from the Jin Dynasty.

full/alternative names
Main Hall, Mahavira Hall, Great Buddha Hall
higher-level structure
Shanhua Temple
built
11th century
work type
Mahavira Hall
material
wood

Architecture: Shanhua Temple

full/alternative names
Shanhua Monastry
historic names
Dapuen Temple
大普恩寺 (Dàpǔēn sì) [Chinese]
907-960
Kaiyuan Temple
开元寺 (Kāiyuán sì) [Chinese]
741-907
built
713-741
around 960
culture
Chinese, Buddhist
style/period
Chinese style
work type
Buddhist monastery, Chinese Buddhist temple
architect / constr. phase
713-741
original monastary
960
reconstruction after Five Dynasties period after Liao dynasty takeover
1128-1143
repair and reconstruction after Jin dynasty takeover

Specifications

width
26.2 m
length
41.8 m

Specification: Shanhua Temple

width
209.0 m
length
251.4 m
area
52,543 m²

Geography

Asia » Eastern Asia » China » Shanxi » Datong Shi » Datong » Pingcheng
local language location name
大同 (Dàtóng), 中國 (Zhōngguó) [Chinese]
historic location names
Pingcheng
平城 (Píngchéng) [Chinese]
historical affiliations
1100-1122
Great Liao
1122-1234
Great Jin
1234-1271
Mongol Empire
1271-1368
Great Yuan
1368-1644
Great Ming
1644-1912
Great Qing
1912-1949
Republic of China
Shanhua Temple, Precious Hall of the Great Hero, stairs to the platform and pailou
Shanhua Temple, Precious Hall of the Great Hero, stairs to the platform and pailou Datong, Shanxi, China
Shanhua Temple, Precious Hall of the Great Hero, south elevation
Shanhua Temple, Precious Hall of the Great Hero, south elevation Datong, Shanxi, China
Shanhua Temple, Precious Hall of the Great Hero, interior
Shanhua Temple, Precious Hall of the Great Hero, interior Datong, Shanxi, China
Shanhua Temple, Precious Hall of the Great Hero, bell tower
Shanhua Temple, Precious Hall of the Great Hero, bell tower Datong, Shanxi, China
Shanhua Temple, Precious Hall of the Great Hero, statues of guardian deities
Shanhua Temple, Precious Hall of the Great Hero, statues of guardian deities Datong, Shanxi, China
Shanhua Temple, Precious Hall of the Great Hero, Shanhua Temple, Precious Hall of the Great Hero, Dhyani Buddha statue
Shanhua Temple, Precious Hall of the Great Hero, Dhyani Buddha statue Datong, Shanxi, China
Shanhua Temple, Precious Hall of the Great Hero, statue of a guardian deity
Shanhua Temple, Precious Hall of the Great Hero, statue of a guardian deity Datong, Shanxi, China
Shanhua Temple, Precious Hall of the Great Hero, door tablet (biane)
Shanhua Temple, Precious Hall of the Great Hero, door tablet (biane) Datong, Shanxi, China
Shanhua Temple, Precious Hall of the Great Hero, Dhyani Buddha statue
Shanhua Temple, Precious Hall of the Great Hero, Dhyani Buddha statue Datong, Shanxi, China
Shanhua Temple, Precious Hall of the Great Hero, Dhyani Buddha statue
Shanhua Temple, Precious Hall of the Great Hero, Dhyani Buddha statue Datong, Shanxi, China
Shanhua Temple, Precious Hall of the Great Hero, statues of guardian deities
Shanhua Temple, Precious Hall of the Great Hero, statues of guardian deities Datong, Shanxi, China
Shanhua Temple, Precious Hall of the Great Hero, Dhyani Buddha statue
Shanhua Temple, Precious Hall of the Great Hero, Dhyani Buddha statue Datong, Shanxi, China