SUKHA: Temple of Famen-Si

Temple of Famen-si and The True Relic Pagoda located at Fufeng County about 120km away from Xian City, has a history of 1700 years. It was widely regarded as the pioneer of pagoda temples in the region of Guanzhong (Xian areas). Temple is in fame for storing the veritable finger bone relic of Sakyamuni Buddha. On 4th August, 1981, half side of the Pagoda wall collapsed in heavy rain and four years later in 1985, The State Government of Shaanxi made up its mind to rebuild the pagoda. When they started pulling down the other half of the pagoda, an underground palace was discovered and it was on the lunar date of 8th April, a day when Buddha enlightened. The archaeologists opened the crypt and found the original Ashokan's relic along with large quantity of Tang era's treasure. It was a quite a great hit in the news at that time. The expansion of temple and reconstruction of pagoda were later completed in October 1988 and the building of Namaste Dagoba which was designed by Taipei architect CY Lee became a main hall to house Buddha's relic and a place of worship. The structure is 148 meter tall equivalent to a height of a 35 storey building, likely the tallest Stupa in the world.

From the unearthed eaves tiles and carved bricks of Han Dynasty, it was believed that Famen-si Temple was first built during Northern Zhou Dynasty by Emperor Huan and also by Emperor Ling of East Han Dynasty (25-220). Basing on the literature illustration, Famen-si Temple existed on a large scale during North Wei Dynasty, but was almost completely destroyed as Buddhism was greatly suppressed by Emperor Wu of Northern Zhou Dynasty.

The Temple was rebuilt after the establishment of Sui Dynasty when Buddhism was venerated, and it entered its peak period after the formation of Tang Dynasty when it was honored as an Imperial Temple. The name Famen-si started applied in year 618 and this was also the period that the temple began to recruit monks. The temple was soon on fire and burnt down and it was the effort of the monks who reconstructed the temple once again on the same site.

In year 660, A 4-storey pavilion like pagoda named as True Relic Pagoda, was built on a demolished site of a palace that actively advocated Buddhism. The name was changed to Grand True Relic Pagoda in year 710 and Famen-si became Grand Empire Carefree King Temple but in year 838 it was known as Fayun Temple but very soon it used back the name Famen-si again.

The emperors of Tang Dynasty acquired Buddha's relic seven times at Famen-si and each time donated generously that facilitated the expansions of Temple and Pagoda and making the temple site evolved into a scale of 24 courtyards. Buddhism was suppressed during the reign of Wuzong (841-847) and Famen-si was affected. The last activity of Buddha relic acquisition in Tang Dynasty was held in Yizong years (860-874). Though Famen-si was rebuilt but its underground palace had never been altered since then.

The original site of the ancient Temple Famen-si and the Ming-era brick Pagoda base.

In year 1567-72 during Ming Dynasty, Famen-si was destroyed in Guanzhong earthquake and the wood Pagoda built in Tang Dynasty collapsed. The Pagoda was reconstructed into a 13-storey brick- mimic-timber pavilion-like structure in year 1579. Many renovations were done in Qing Dynasty but damaged in 1862 in Hui (Muslim) minority uprising. A multi-tiered Ming-era brick Pagoda was rebuilt and a new temple complex was created in a style of Tang Dynasty. Though rebuilt but in a smaller scale.

During the forming of Republic of China, The temple site was largely ruined as it was used to station army. Activities of Buddhism was finally restored and temple site reconstructed in year 1938-40. During cultural revolution, Temple halls and Buddhist figures were destroyed by the red guards. Monks were either demobilized or killed. The Abbot Rev. Liang-Qing incinerated himself in front of the Pagoda in order to protect the underground palace. Famen-si was among the key protected historical relics in the country after the establishment of People's Republic of China.

The Underground Palace

The underground Palace, a place where four pieces of sarira were restored in ancient China, was not opened to public until year 1987 during the reconstruction of tower after it was hit by thunder and collapsed. The crypt covers about 32 sq meter built in Tang Dynasty with combination of the style of tombs of royal family with Buddhism's culture.

The incident of how a crypt under the Pagoda that built in Tang Dynasty to receive an Asohokan relic of Buddha Sakhyamuni's finger bone was discovered, was clearly illustrated in the article.

The illustration of the article showing how the 4 pieces of sarira sealed in the Pagoda's subterranean crypt when it discovered.

The treasures in the crypt were removed to a new museum constructed on the site. The museum should be of great interest to most of the visitors compared to the new building complex, as the relics and treasures displayed were of thousand years history. The museum site has 4 separate halls categorized into : (1) The Underground Palace (2) The Underground Palace below the Treasure Hall (3) Treasure of Great Tang (4) Buddhist Culture Exhibition Hall and (5) Historical and cultural Exhibition Hall.

Besides Buddhist appliances and sacrificial items discovered in the Underground Palace, there were also many other articles unearthed at the same time including silk costume, coins, silver and golden items. Many objects discovered from the Underground Palace are shown to the public in the Exhibition hall of Treasure of the Great Tang Dynasty.

Among the precious objects, there are embroidered shoes of gold and silver thread, items that can only be seen in Tang's mural.

The silver square case with decorative pictures of double lions and the silver square case granted by Emperor personally, and a gilded silver cage .

The rare gold gilded bowl and a secret Celadon dish

Gold thread silk and other materials.

The simple glass tea cup with holder showing the high level of crafting skill in Tang Dynasty and set of tea leaves container.

Illustration of detailed process in the art of making tea, from plucking to boiling.

A Turtle shaped box and the best preserved gilt silver tea set, said to be one of the earliest royal tea set ever discovered. Tea set which includes a gilded silver tea roller with silver axis, The tea sieve and The salt container were the first to be discovered and so far the only one unearth. Tea sieve consisted of 5 parts including body, base, drawer, cover and sieve. The series reflected the highest level of tea culture in China.

Silver and gold gilded objects including scoop, fire sticks.

Displayed in Buddhist Cultural Exhibition hall are pages of hand written Avatamsaka Sutra and a small gold image of Buddha made in Tang Dynasty.

The Incense Burners displayed in Buddhist Cultural Exhibition hall.

Tower of Asoka and the seals of the 4 sarira which includes the Buddha's finger bone, unearthed from Underground Palace.

Outer layer containers that seal the Buddha's relic.

The Buddha's finger bone relic was sealed inside one of these little coffins of gold, silver and jade.

Buddhist artifacts from Tang Dynasty.

Royal artifacts of Buddhism from Tang Dynasty.

The prosperous Buddhism culture in Tang Dynasty are shown in The Buddhist Culture Exhibition Hall. The precious Buddhist appliances relics are arranged in accordance to the Esoteric in Tang Dynasty. Among the famous are an image of a Boddhisattva holding the true Buddha's relic and a tin staff with 12 rings that has the highest level in all Buddhist appliances. The tin staff stands the greatest supernatural power in Buddhism.

The prosperous Buddhism culture in Tang are shown by pictures vividly in Historical Cultural Exhibition Hall. It exhibits the long and splendid history of Famen Temple, mainly about the construction of the temple commencing from Han to Tang Dynasty.

Historical Cultural Exhibition Hall also exhibits the tales about the underground palace and discovery process of the crypt.

The round top and some remains of Pagoda are displayed in the Historical Cultural Exhibition Hall.

The deities.

The replica of crypt below The Treasure Hall.

Below The Treasure Hall, there are pictures illustrating various artifacts unearthed when opening the crypt as well as some of the relics of Tang Dynasty found.