Xi'an | Daci'en Temple

Daci'en Temple is located on Cien Road in Yanta District, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province. It is one of the most famous and magnificent Buddhist temples in Chang'an City during the Tang Dynasty. The temple was built in the 22nd year of the Zhenguan era of Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty by Crown Prince Li Zhi in memory of his mother, Empress Wende, née Zhangsun. This temple was not only a royal temple built by the order of the Li Tang royal family, but also one of the three major translation sites in Chang'an during the Tang Dynasty, with a very high historical status. According to historical records, Daci'en Temple was grand in scale when it was first built, occupying half of the Jinchangfang area at that time, with 13 courtyards and 1,897 rooms, including double-story buildings, pavilions, and meditation rooms, making it very spectacular. Its prominent position in the history of Chinese Buddhism is largely due to a great figure—Master Xuanzang. Master Xuanzang, who was honored as the "Tripitaka Master," once presided over the temple affairs at Daci'en Temple, led the Buddhist scripture translation site, and founded the Yogacara school (also known as the Faxiang school or Cien school), one of the eight major schools of Chinese Buddhism. Here, he not only translated a large number of Buddhist scriptures, but also personally supervised the construction of the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda to enshrine the Buddha statues, relics, and Sanskrit scriptures he brought back from India. Therefore, Daci'en Temple is not only the ancestral temple of the Yogacara school, but also became the center of Buddhist culture during the Tang Dynasty. The pagoda houses precious Buddhist relics. You can climb to the top of the pagoda to overlook the entire city of Xi'an and feel the charm of the ancient city. Daci'en Temple is a Buddhist holy place with a thousand-year history. The flowing water does not compete for the lead, but for the endless flow. Here, you can feel the profoundness of Buddhist culture and appreciate the superb skills and creativity of ancient craftsmen. If you have the opportunity to visit Xi'an, don't miss this thousand-year-old temple. Here, you can meditate, worship Buddha, and climb the Wild Goose Pagoda for a unique cultural journey.