Zhaojue Temple

Adjacent to Chengdu Zoo, Zhaojue Temple is a bustling center of worship. Founded during the Zhenguan era of the Tang Dynasty, it was originally named "Jianyuan Temple." It was renamed "Zhaojue" by Emperor Xuanzong of Tang and is known as the "First Zen Forest" in western Sichuan. Inside Zhaojue Temple, there is a modern wood carving of the "Thousand-Hand Guanyin." The neatly raised hands resemble dense shrubs reaching into a mysterious space, with the head of Guanyin hidden among the layers. The main buildings within the temple include the Mountain Gate, Octagonal Pavilion, Hall of Heavenly Kings, Xianjue Hall, Yuanjue Hall, Imperial Library, Guanyin Pavilion, Nirvana Hall, Sutra Library, and the tomb of Zen Master Yuanwu. It is one of the largest and most spectacular temples in Southwest China. Zhaojue Temple not only holds an important position in the history of Chinese Buddhism but has also made outstanding contributions to the history of cultural exchange between China and foreign countries. To this day, many Buddhist temples in Japan and Southeast Asia still regard Zhaojue Temple as their ancestral home. The "Blue Cliff Record" and "Yuanwu's Essential Teachings," written by the eminent monk Zen Master Yuanwu, are included in the Japanese Taisho Tripitaka. His work "Tea and Zen Are One Taste" has been in Japan for over 300 years and is still revered as a treasure by the Japanese tea ceremony community.