Posted 2016/6/11
Fayu Temple (法雨禅寺) is one of three major temples in Mount Putuo.
Its grand hall was rebuilt in Kangxi 38th year (1699), Qing Dynasty.
Fayu Temple, also called Stone Temple, is located in Mount Putuo, Zhejiang Province, People's Republic of China. It is the second largest temple in Mount Putuo, and a national key buddhist temple in Han area designated by the State Council. Ming Wanli 8th year (1580), a monk of Macheng, named Dazhi (Zhenrong), came from west Sichuan to Mount Putuo for training. He was attracted by the local scenery and built a small sanctuary named "Ocean Tide", meaning "Buddhist Ocean Guanyin". Wanli 22nd year (1594), the governor Wu Anguo renamed it "Ocean Tide Temple". It was destroyed in fire in 1598. Wanli 33rd year (1605), it was renovated and expanded. In the following year, the central government granted a plaque "National Defense Ocean Pacifying Temple", as well as an inscription called "Dragon Treasure". It suffered wars and fire several times. In Kangxi 26 year (1687), the temple was refurbished and expanded again. In 1699, the emperor Kangxi granted a plaque "Heavenly Flowers Buddhist Rain". Thus, it changed to "Buddhist Rain Temple", or "Fayu Temple". In 1731, emperor Yongzheng ordered a large-scale renovation project. Thereafter, it became a famous temple in southeast China.
The temple has a land area of 33,000 m2. It comprises 294 halls and rooms, with a building area of 9,300 m2. Along the trend of the mountain from lower to higher are Heavenly Kings Hall, Jade Buddhist Hall, Nine-Dragon Guanyin Hall, Emperor Tablet Hall, Great Grand Hall, and Fangzhang Hall.
The front door of the temple is not located along the axial line, but on the southeast corner. It is a double-eaved square pavilion, different from average front doors of Buddhist temple. The front plaque reads "Heavenly Flowers Colorful Rain", written in gold on blue ground. Inside the door, to the west is the shadowy wall. It was originally a three-dragon wall carved on bricks, with Buddhist words meaning "unbelievable power". Unfortunately, the wall was pulled down in Cultural Revolution. In 1987, on the site erected a nine-dragon wall. Built of pale stones, it is 12m wide, 9m high and 1m thick.
