Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v1.c7.s3.t19: Xingjiao Temple
Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v1.c7.s3.t19
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Xingjiao Temple
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Xingjiao Temple (Xingjiao Vihar) is one of the most famous Buddhist temples in China which is located at Changan County in southern suburb of Xi’an, Shaanxi Province. It was built in Zongzhang second year of Emperor Gaozong of Tang (669 CE) to accommodate the relics of Master Xuanzang.
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In 664 CE, Buddhist Master Xuanzang passed away at Yuhua Palace (in Tongchuan City, Shaanxi Province) and his body was buried on the White Deer Plain in the east suburb of Chang’an. Several years later, a pagoda was built to keep his remains and then Xingjiao Temple was established. The most important building in the temple is dagobas built for Master Xuanzang and his disciples Kui Ji and Yuan Ce.
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Xingjiao Temple, notwithstanding experiencing the rise and fall in later ages, was always respected and loved by people who continuously burnt incense in the temple longing for blessing of Buddha. However, as time rolled into the mid-19th century, Xingjiao Temple was completely damaged by war and only the dagobas of Master Xuanzang and his two disciples survived. In 1922, a large-scaled reconstruction was carried out and Kang You-wei even inscribed a
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Gate of Xingjiao Temple
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signboard for it. Another rebuilding work was done in 1939. After 1949, the Chinese Government granted funds twice for the repair and restoration of Xingjiao Temple, so it forms into the size that we see today. In Mahavira Hall, there is a bronze Buddha built during Ming Dynasty and a Maitreya Buddha made out of white jade given by Burma as a gift. The Depository of Buddhist *Sutras* is located on the east yard, a grand two-floor building, the first floor of which is used to treasure the portrait of Master Xuanzang and some calligraphies and paintings by historical celebrities, together with valuable historical photos of some politicians like Chou En-Lai and Jawaharlal Nehru paying tribute to the graveyard of Master Xuanzang. The second floor treasures thousands of Buddhist scriptures and relics of palm leaf manuscript in Pali. The west yard is also known as the Ci’en Ta yard ie the location of dagobas for Master Xuanzang and his two disciples Kui Ji and Yuan Ce.
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(*Xue Keqiao*)