 This
is the centre of all buildings in the temple, where the monks do
most of their services. It is often called 'Main Hall' or 'Great
Hall'. The hall used to be a five room building with double eaves.
After the fire only the platform, the stone columns and three of
the wall were among the things that remained. |
 Before
it was destroyed, it had enshrined the statues of Sakyamuni,
Amitayas (Amida Buddha) and Bhaisajyagura. |
  Against
the gabled wall were laid the Buddhist boards, staffs and various
weapons. |
  Inside the original Daxiong Hall before the fires of 1928 |
 . Outside the Daxiong Hall before the fires of 1928. On the left trees in front on the hall and on the right Shaolin's army of those days. |
| Above the lintel inside was hung a horizontal board, on which were the words 'Treasured Trees, Fragant Lotuses', with the script done by Emperor Kang Xi in 1704. In each of the three middle rooms, four partition boards were arranged. The sign board, Daxiong Bedouin, was under the eaves of the middle room. The Daxiong Baodian was repaired in the Ming and Qing Dynasties. So most of the relics were the work of this period. As to the age of the hall, a sections of the brick wall and an inlaid stone inscription unearthed give the hint that it might be first build as far back as in 1169. |
 Present
day information board attached to the building says this:"Daxiong Hall was destroyed by war in 1928 and was rebuilt after the old model in 1985. It is a magnificent building with double eaves green glazed tile roof. Inside the hall are enshrined the statues of the three great Buddha's and of the founder of Chanzong Bodhidharma and the guardian deity Kimnare. Besides, on the right & left side walls are enshrined the statues of the 18 Arhats covered in gold leaf. Daxiong Hall is the main place for Shaolin Buddhists to carry out their religious activities." |
|
|
  |
  |
|
A statue of Damo next ot the main statues and some of the 18 Luohan, which are located along side the side walls |
  |
|
|
|
|
Inside present day Daxiong Hall.
At the back of the hall a statue of Guanyin and a monk selling
small jade Buddhist pendants.