Baoguo Temple (Mount Emei)

Baoguo Temple, situated on the sacred Mount Emei in Sichuan, China, is a significant Buddhist temple that also serves as the seat of the Buddhist Association of Mount Emei. Its unique characteristic lies in its syncretic approach, venerating not only Buddhist Bodhisattvas but also sages from Confucianism and deities from Taoism. This inclusive practice embodies the historical ideal of the "Three Teachings Harmonious as One," a concept prevalent during the Ming and Qing dynasties.

History and Development

The temple's origins trace back to the Huizong Hall, established by Mingguang during the Wanli period of the Ming dynasty (1573–1619). Initially, it enshrined deities from the three spiritual traditions, with Puxian at the center, flanked by the Taoist deity Guangchengzi and the Confucian sage Lu Tong. During the Shunzhi Emperor's reign in the Qing dynasty, the monk Wenda relocated the temple to its present site. A pivotal moment in its history occurred in 1703, during the Kangxi era, when Emperor Kangxi bestowed upon it the name "Baoguo Temple." The temple underwent further expansion in 1866 under the monk Guanghui. In recognition of its importance, Baoguo Temple was inscribed as a National Key Buddhist Temple in the Han Chinese Area by the State Council of China in 1983.

Architectural Highlights and Treasures

The existing main buildings of Baoguo Temple include the Shanmen (mountain gate), the Hall of Mi Le, the Mahavira Hall, the Seven Buddha Hall, and the Zangjing Ge (Scripture Repository). Above the eaves of the Shanmen hangs a plaque bearing "Baoguo Temple," inscribed by calligrapher Wang Fan from the handwriting of Emperor Kangxi himself.

Within the Hall of Mi Le, the central statue is of Mi Le, with the dharmapala Weituo standing behind. The Mahavira Hall is dedicated to the Three Saints of Hua-yan, featuring Shijiamoni in the center, with Wenshu and Puxian on either side, and statues of the Eighteen Arhats before the gable walls. The Seven Buddha Hall behind it houses statues of seven Buddhas, including Kassapa and Shakyamuni, with Guanyin and Dashizhi at the rear, accompanied by Longnü and Shancai.

Among its most significant treasures is the "Huayan Pagoda," a fourteen-story, six-meter-tall bronze pagoda from the Ming dynasty, intricately carved with the Avatamsaka Sutra. The temple also possesses a large bell, cast in 1564 by Huizong Biechuan during the late Ming dynasty. This bell, standing 2.8 meters high, weighs 12.5 kilograms and is renowned for its deep, sonorous tone. Its exterior is inscribed with over 60,000 characters from the Āgama and other Buddhist scriptures.