Guanzong Temple

Guanzong Temple
观宗寺
The Mahavira Hall at Guanzong Temple.
Religion
Affiliation	Buddhism
Deity	Tiantai
Location
Location	Haishu District, Ningbo, Zhejiang
Country	China
Shown within Zhejiang
Geographic coordinates	29°52′02″N 121°33′27″E
Architecture
Style	Chinese architecture
Date established	1078–1085
Completed	20th-century (reconstruction)

Guanzong Temple (simplified Chinese: 观宗寺; traditional Chinese: 觀宗寺; pinyin: Guānzōng Sì) is a Buddhist temple located in Haishu District of Ningbo, Zhejiang, China. Reconstructed in 20th-century.

History

The temple traces its origins to the former Shiliuguan-tang (十六观堂; Shíliùguān Táng), founded by monk Jieran (介然) in the Yuanfeng era (1078–1085) of the Northern Song dynasty (960–1127) and would later become "Guanzong Temple" in early Republic of China. In early Republic of China, Zhang Daqian came to the temple to study Buddhism under master Dixian.

During the ten-year Cultural Revolution, the Red Guard had attacked the temple, wooden statues of the Five Hundred Arhat and statues of "Three-Life Buddha" (三世佛; Sānshì Fó) were demolished by Red Guards. Halls of the temple were used as warehouse, school and conference hall.

On December 5, 1981, it was inscribed as a municipal level cultural heritage by the local government. In 1993, the Ningbo Municipal Government invited Yixing (益行), the acting abbot of Guoqing Temple and forty-seventh generation of Tiantai school, to restore the temple.

Architecture

Now the existing main buildings include Four Heavenly Kings Hall, Mahavira Hall and wing-rooms.

Four Heavenly Kings Hall

The Four Heavenly Kings Hall is 16-metre (52 ft) high and 22-metre (72 ft) wide with double-eave gable and hip roofs.

Mahavira Hall

The Mahavira Hall is 21-metre (69 ft) deep and 23-metre (75 ft) wide with double-eave gable and hip roofs. The roof is supported by stone columns.