Shuanglin Temple

Shuanglin Temple covers an area of about 15,000 square meters, facing south. The temple is on the east side and the main building complex is on the west side. There are 2,052 exquisite colored sculptures in the temple (1,566 of which are preserved in the protection area), of varying sizes, with extremely high artistic value, representing the pinnacle of Yuan and Ming colored sculptures.

Highlights of Shuanglin Temple

Statue of Skanda (韦驮像)

Statue of Skanda

The 1.8-meter Skanda statue in the Thousand Buddha Hall is hailed as China's finest clay portrayal of this Buddhist guardian. Made around 1500 CE, it's lifelike and dynamic. The figure twists at the waist, as if the armor clinks while he grasps a weapon. The flowing sash and intense gaze show Ming sculptors' skill in depicting motion. Despite 500 years of incense smoke, the mineral-based pigments remain well-preserved, with light shifting beautifully across them.

Thousand Buddha Hall（千佛殿）

Avalokitesvara in the Posture of Royal Ease （自在观音）

The Thousand Buddha Hall has 513 statues. These statues are set up to tell complex stories. In the middle of these statues is the 3.4-meter-tall "Avalokitesvara with Thousand Hands". Each palm of this statue has an eye, which means compassion that exists everywhere. The bodhisattvas around it show different emotions. Some look peaceful when they are in meditation, and some look angry and determined. The "Story of Sudhana" relief series is very notable. It is like a 3D comic strip about the pilgrim’s spiritual journey, and it even has carved landscapes and buildings.

Arhat Hall (罗汉殿)

Arhat Statue for Welcoming Pilgrims in Arhat Hall

There are 18 life-sized Luohan statues in the Arhat Hall. They are not like the regular Buddhist statues. They show the distinct personalities of the Luohan. One statue leans forward as if it is whispering a secret. Another looks annoyed at a misbehaving follower. And a third one is laughing joyfully. It is rare in religious art to make statues seem so human-like. The skin textures appear natural, and the fabric looks nicely draped. They were made using layers of clay and hemp fibers, and it is still astonishing how they were crafted.

Heavenly Kings Hall (天王殿)

Vajrapāṇi Statue in Heavely King Hall

Four 3-meter-tall celestial kings are at the temple entrance. They combine serious symbolic meaning with some interesting details. The lute of the East King has real silk strings. The sword of the South King sparkles because of the mica on it. Their big eyes and the robes that seem to be flapping in the wind make them looks nicely draped. They were made using layers of clay and hemp fibers, and it is still astonishing how they were crafted.