Foguang Temple, Buddhist temple in Mount Wutai, China
Foguang Temple is a Buddhist structure near Mount Wutai with a large eastern hall built in traditional Chinese wood construction featuring interlocking brackets and detailed Buddhist sculptures. The building displays skilled craftsmanship with intricate carvings on beams, columns, and roof ornaments.
The temple was first built in the 5th century during the Northern Wei Dynasty and reconstructed in 857 after destruction from the anti-Buddhist campaign of 845. This rebuilding allowed the structure to survive and made it an important record of the temple's persistence through difficult times.
The temple shows a blend of Han and Tibetan Buddhist traditions visible in its wall paintings, stone carvings, and daily rituals that visitors can witness. This mix appears clearly in how worshippers use and decorate the spaces.
Reaching this temple requires arranging your own transportation since it sits in a remote rural location. Plan enough time to walk through different areas, as separate admission tickets are needed for each section of the site.
The Great East Hall shelters 36 Buddhist sculptures from the Tang Dynasty and remains the most complete wooden building from that era surviving in China. This hall stands as a rare example of the craftsmanship from that time.
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