Bamboo Temple
Bamboo Temple (Qiongzhu Si) is a famous and ancient Buddhist temple, located on Yu’an Mountain, 18 kilometers northwest of Kunming . It is renowned for the 500 painted clay sculptures of Buddhist Arhats and crowned as the “Pearl of Oriental Art of Sculpture”. It is a nice place for visitors to enjoy the real tranquility of Buddhist temple and get a better understanding of Buddhist sculpture culture as well as sculpture skills.
History
Qiongzhu is a type of bamboo. As the first temple of Zen Buddhists in Yuannan, Bamboo Temple was built during the Yuan Dynasty (CE 1271-1368). And it has been destroyed and reconstructed many times. The present temple was reconstructed during the Qing Dynasty.
Legend of Bamboo Temple
There is a mysterious legend about Bamboo Temple. According to the legend in the Tang Dynasty (CE 618-907), two brothers, Gao Guang and Gao Zhi found a rhinoceros when they were hunting in the Western Hill. They followed the rhinoceros to the northern part of Yu’an Mountain with the desire of capturing it.
But suddenly the rhinoceros disappeared, they saw a group of monks in white standing on clouds instead. The monks stuck some bamboo poles in the ground and left without a trace. The two brothers returned the next day and they were surprised that the bamboo poles had turned into a bamboo forest.
The two brothers believed that the bamboo forest is sacred. So they built Bamboo Temple of Zen Buddhists in honor of the monks.
Highlights
The 500 Disciples of the Buddha
There are 500 clan sculptures of Buddhist Arhats (Luohan in Chinese ). Crowned as the “Pearl of Oriental Art of Sculpture”, these statues are sculptured by Li Guangxiu, a talented sculptor and his students during Qing Dynasty. It took them seven years to complete these splendid clay sculptures.
The sculptural formats are various and colorful. Each sculpture is characterized by distinctive facial expressions as well as body gestures. The sculptures are with expressions of smile, laughter, sadness, anger and curiosity etc.
Visitors can easily find that some statues are slim while others heavy. Some statues look beautiful while others are ugly. Some are with extra legs and arms. There is a sculpture touching the moon with extremely long arms. However, these fantastic and even grotesque sculptures are modeled on real people.
These sculptures with similar clothing and stature as ordinary people are unlike those at other Buddhist temples, which makes them more close to people’s daily life. Some sculptures are decorated with gold and remain in good condition.
Fanyin Pavilion and Tiantailai Pavilion
There are 432 clan sculptures at these two pavilions in all. These pavilions are full of the agricultural style of Buddhist, which visitors can find many delicate paintings on the halls. It is a nice place for visitors to get a better understanding of Buddhist culture and photographs.
Besides, there is a clan sculpture of a rhinoceros sitting in the center of a pond, which was built according to the legend of Bamboo Temple. Visitors can enjoy the interesting and splendid sculptures by taking a stroll around the temple. As the temple is surrounded by trees and bamboo, taking a rest.
Best Time for Visit: All Season.
Nearby Attractions
There are some beautiful scenic spots such as Dongchuan Red Land and Sani Minority Villages around Bamboo Temple. Dongchuan Red Land, of course, is a magnificent red land where visitors can take beautiful pictures and enjoy the sunrise and sunset.
Sani Minority Villages is a tranquil and beautiful area where visitors can enjoy the idyllic surroundings and folk customs as well as the unique culture of Sani people.
Location
It is located on Yu’an Mountain, 18 kilometers northwest of Kunming, Yunnan Province.
How to Get There?
- Visitors can easily get access to the Bamboo Temple by taking bus No.C62 or C63 from downtown.
- Take a cab to get there, which saves time and is more convenient.
Ticket Price
RMB 6
Opening Hours
08:30 AM - 17:00 PM
More Tips
- It is advisable to go visit with a local guide.
- Please do not wear clothing such as shorts, a mini shirt and singlet to get in the temple.