 1000
Buddha Hall, also named Pilu Pavilion, is to the north of Li
Xue Ting. It was built in 1588 in the Ming Dynasty with the
construction materials of other buildings dismantled by order
of Empress Dowager Ci Sheng. Twice repaired in 1639 and 1775,
it has been left with the architectural style. On the back of
a glazed tablet set in the middle of the Great Ridge are
thirteen characters meaning ' This 1000 Buddha Hall was
renovated in mid autumn, 40th year in the reign of Emperor
Qian Long' (1775) Elegant carvings decorate the entire bridge. |
 There
is a vertical inscribed board, on which the words 'Western
Sage' were written, placed above the entrance to the
central rooms. The three central rooms are separated by
partition boards, each with four doors. In front of the hall
there is a spacious platform encircled by exquisite stone
fences. Beneath the hall there are observation posts and a
flight of steps. |
  On
the stone in the middle of those steps is Two Dragons playing
with a Pearl in relief. Thin, floating clouds are carved in
the middle of the relief; in the lower part are mountains,
lotus blossoms and four red crowned cranes, which form a
picture by itself. |
  In
the middle of the Hall a bronze statue of Buddha Pilu is
sitting on a throne of lotus blossoms consecrated in a shrine.
In the eastern part of the hall was a table, on which stands
Amida Buddha carved in white marble and vouchsafed by the
prince on Zhou in 1409. Bodhidharma's 'Shadow Rock' was once
kept here as well. |
 Five
Hundred Arhats Worshipping Pilu, a drawing of about 320 square
meters in size, is frescoed on the east, west and north walls
of the hall; the background of the drawing is made with
mountains, waters, floating clouds and mist. The five hundred
Arhats are presented in three sections: upper, middle and
lower, each consisting of a number of figures. Some of the
Arhats are seen subduing dragons and tigers, others are
indulging themselves in animated talking, a few holding their
alms bowls casting a spell, and still others are all ears in
audience with their master. All are vivid and lifelike in
their various postures. Arthur, a sound transliterated from
Sanskrit, means a monk who has cultivated himself in Buddhism
so well that he has at last risen from the mortals. In the
Buddhist world an arhat is next only to a Bodhisvattva, the
mural was painted in strong color, the lines are very neat and
vigorous. Such a view is rarely seen among murals
of the same kind in China. No chronological record or
inscriptions are found on it. Most people regard it as a Ming
Dynasty work. |
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 Inside
the hall there are 48 foot print impressions, which were the
result of the wear and tear by feet of monks consistently
practicing martial arts trough the centuries. The deepest
impressions can be found at the front of the row; those at the
back are much less deep. It is said that this is because the
best martial monks, those who had the most powerful steps,
were standing at the front. One of the guides of the temple
jokingly said that the present day monks are not able to make
similar footprints, not even if they kept going at it for a
100 years... Up 'till a few years ago it was possible to
actually enter the hall and 'touch' the footsteps and watch
the murals up close, but apparently the floor was
deteriorating because of the big number of visitors. |
 "Pilu
Pavilion, also named 1000 Buddha Hall, has got its name
because of the bronze statue of Buddha Pilu, which was cast in
the Ming Dynasty, is enshrined inside it. Above the statue
there is a board bearing four Chinese characters "PHA Yin
Gao Ti" (Uphold high the Buddha’s Seal), handwritten by
Emperor Qianlong personally. On the east, north and west sides
of the hall is an enormous colour fresco depicting the story
of "Five hundred Arhats Worshipping Pilu", painted
by artists of Ming Dynasty. On the brick wall are left 48 foot
print depressions, which have resulted from the monks arduous
pugilistic practice in the past several centuries. These
depressions on the brick floor are popularly known as "Foot
Kungfu Depressions"." |
 
An image of Damo and Buddha that were once kept inside the
1000 Buddha Hall. |
| Next is:
Behind the scenes;
Monks quarters
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