Last Updated on 2023/02/10
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Modern-day significance and continued religious importance.
Nanputuo (南普陀寺) is a Buddhist temple of vast proportions not far from the University of Xiamen.
Nanputuo Temple, also known as South Putuo Temple, is a magnificent Buddhist temple located near the University of Xiamen. The temple has a rich history, dating back to the Tang dynasty, and continues to be a popular destination for Buddhists, monks, and pilgrims. The name “Nanputuo” comes from the fact that it is situated to the south of Mount Putuo in Zhejiang Province, a renowned Buddhist holy site.
Throughout its history, the temple has undergone several transformations and renovations, with its most recent renovation taking place in the 1980s. During the Tang dynasty, the temple was established as a Buddhist sacred land by the monks who lived there, and it was known by various names. In 1622, at the beginning of the Qing dynasty, General Shi Liang provided funds to rebuild the temple and renamed it after Mount Putuo, the abode of Bodhisattva Guanyin, who was the main deity worshipped there.
In 1924, Hui Quan was appointed as the first abbot of Nanputuo Temple, and since then, many renowned Buddhist masters such as Hong Yi and Yin Shun have taught there. Today, the temple remains an important religious and cultural landmark and continues to attract a large number of visitors who come to pay their respects and participate in religious rituals and ceremonies.
Related: The architecture of Gulangyu, A trip to Xiamen, The Ancient Earthen Castles in Tulou
Pictures: Matteo Damiani [China-underground ; CinaOggi]
Map of the Nanputuo Temple
Images of Nanputuo Temple, Xiamen, Fujian, China
Photos: Matteo Damiani
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