Arhat Temple (Luohan Temple)
In China, in the bustling urban areas with numerous tall buildings, many cities still retain ancient Buddhist temples, such as Jade Buddha Temple in Shanghai, Guiyuan Temple in Wuhan, and Nanputuo Temple in Xiamen. Traveling in Chongqing, visit Luohan Temple, originally named Zhiping Temple and commonly known as the Dragon King Temple, first built during the Zhiping era of the Northern Song Dynasty (1064–1067). "Luohan" is the Chinese rendering of the Sanskrit "arhat" which is a Buddhist term referring to people who attained enlightenment, while he postponed his entry to nirvana to assist others. Hence it is also named Arhat Temple in Chongqing.
Built about 1000 years ago, the temple has a long entranceway flanked by rock carvings, a hall of painted terracotta arhat sculptures and the Main Shrine Hall containing a large gold Buddha figure. Behind the Buddha altar is an Indian-style mural depicting Prince Siddhartha in the process of his secular life to ultimate nirvana. Additionally, the main structures of Luohan Temple include the Great Mountain Gate, the Ming Stele Pavilion, the Ancient Buddha Rock, the Hall of Five Hundred Arhats, the Zen Hall, and the Miaoxiang Vegetarian Restaurant.
Chongqing Luohan Temple Facts
The History of Luohan Temple in Chongqing
During the Zhiping era of the Northern Song Dynasty (1064–1067), Luohan Temple was founded by Master Guyue. Originally named Zhiping Temple, it underwent repairs and expansions through successive dynasties.
In the tenth year of the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty (1745), the temple's front hall collapsed and was rebuilt as a Dragon God Shrine, hence its common name Dragon King Temple. In the mid-late Qing Dynasty, Master Longfa constructed the Five Hundred Arhats Hall, and the temple was renamed Luohan Temple.
In July 1940, Japanese forces bombed Chongqing, leaving only the Great Mountain Gate and the ancient Buddha Cliff stone carvings intact. Abbot Master Zongxian spearheaded the reconstruction, restoring the Chan Hall, Dharma Hall, Abbot's Hall, Arhats Hall, and the Great Hero Hall.
In the 1970s, the Five Hundred Arhats at Luohan Temple suffered severe damage. In 1986 and 2009, the temple undertook the restoration and recasting of the Five Hundred Arhats statues.
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What to See: Main Architectures
Main Gate
Above the main gate of Luohan Temple hangs a plaque inscribed with the temple's name, “Luohan Temple,” penned by Ji Yingxiong, the Prefect of Chengdu during the Kangxi reign of the Qing Dynasty. Two stone lions stand guard before the entrance, while the outer walls feature time-honored stone and wood carvings. Flanking the approach path are stone steles dating to the third year of the Tianqi reign (1623) of the Ming Dynasty, inscribed with the characters “West Lake Historic Site” and bearing relief carvings of the Yixiang Buddha from the ancient Buddha Rock cliff.
Ming Stele Pavilion
Luohan Temple's “Ming Stele Pavilion” was specifically constructed to protect two ancient steles. On the right stands a stone tablet inscribed with the characters “West Lake Historic Site” by Yu Xinxian, acting magistrate of Chongqing during the Gui Mao year of the Tianqi era (1623). The left stone bears three regulated poems—“Crossing the Shoals,” “Night on the Boat,” and “Chongqing”—inscribed by Wu Gao in the Jiajing Renzi year (1552). Legend holds that in the fourth year of the Jianwen era (1403), when Prince Yan Zhu Di captured the capital, the deposed Ming Emperor Jianwen shaved his head to become a monk. Fleeing southwest with his ministers, he passed through Chongqing and stayed at Luohan Temple.
The Great Buddha's Hall
The Great Buddha's Hall of Chongqing Luohan Temple is a two-story structure. Ascending the stone steps leads to the front porch of the main hall, featuring red railings and vermilion doors. Beneath the eaves hangs a large plaque inscribed with “The Great Buddha's Hall” (大雄宝殿), written by Wang Sunwei, the Prince of Guanwang who toured eastern Sichuan during the 20th year of the Kangxi reign (1681).
Above the doorway, a Sanskrit plaque bearing the same inscription was inscribed by an Indian Brahmin. Two additional plaques adorn either side. The square pillars, each requiring two men to embrace, bear couplet inscriptions in seal script, while the lintel features gilded wood carvings depicting the Buddha seated centrally, expounding teachings to his disciples.
Along the walls stand five hundred golden arhat statues, carved during the Jiaqing era of the Qing dynasty after models from Changzhou's Tianling Temple. Behind them stand the Three Saints of the Western Paradise. The entire hall features brick walls on the left and right sides, with glass doors and windows at the front and rear, accommodating over eight hundred worshippers.
Arahant Hall
Th hall is divided into four levels. The ground floor houses the Arahant space, containing 523 sculpted figures of Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and Arhats. Among them are the Peacock King Buddha, the Four-Faced Guanyin, the Medicine Buddha, Maitreya Bodhisattva, Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, and 518 Arhats.
The roof structure not only provides shelter from wind and rain but also carries profound meanings related to hierarchy, specifications, feng shui, and warding off evil. The Arhat Hall employs two intersecting hip-and-gable roofs. The finial is adorned with a golden vase, symbolizing the realm of Buddhist teachings, solemnity, nobility, and light, signifying freedom from all darkness. The sloping ridges of the Arhat Hall roof feature, in sequence: Wind-Riding Immortals, dragons, phoenixes, and lions. These represent turning misfortune into good fortune, imperial authority, sacred virtue, and the Dharma, respectively.
The sides of the Arhat Hall roof also feature “gable decorations”—vividly painted murals. Two perfectly symmetrical pairs of bats soar amidst clouds, where bats symbolize fortune and clouds represent destiny, signifying the rise of blessings. The drumhead motif features two cranes intertwined in flight. Ancient Chinese believed cranes to be incarnations of immortals, hence the name “immortal cranes.” In Buddhist architectural decoration, these cranes embody the blessing of health and longevity for all.
Guofo Cliff Rock Carvings
These Song Dynasty relics are distributed along the east and west walls of the passageway within the Great Mountain Gate of Luohan Temple, leading to Guofo Cliff. The carvings depict Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, disciples, and devotees, predominantly rendered in high relief.
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How to Get to Arhat Temple
By subway: Take Chongqing Metro Line 1 or Line 6 to Xiaoshizi Station, then walk to Luohan Temple.
