Travel in China
Wuhan's busiest Buddhist temple - the Hall of 500 gilded arhats and the double-faced goddess.
Guiyuan Temple (Temple of Original Purity) was founded in 1658 and is Wuhan's most important Buddhist temple. Its compound of halls and courtyards is home to a resident community of monks and draws a constant stream of worshippers, making it the liveliest working temple in central China.
The temple's most famous feature is the Hall of 500 Arhats - 500 gilded statues in bodiless lacquer (tuotai qisu), each with a distinct face, posture and personality. Visitors traditionally count the arhats in sequence from the entrance, stopping at the number that corresponds to their age - the expression on that arhat's face is said to reveal their fortune.
The temple also houses a remarkable double-faced sculpture of Guanyin, the goddess of mercy - one face serene, one fierce, rotating on a pivot. The release pond in the front courtyard, filled with turtles, and the ancient ginkgo tree are other focal points.
Highlights
The Hall of 500 Arhats
500 gilded bronze statues, each with a distinct face and personality.
The Double-Faced Guanyin
A sculpture with serene and fierce faces on opposite sides.
The Release Pond
A turtle-filled pond where devotees free captive animals.
The Main Hall
The grand prayer hall with its incense and chanting.
The Ancient Ginkgo
A centuries-old tree in the front courtyard.
The Fortune Counting
Count the arhats to your age and read the expression.
Photo Gallery
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