Banruo Temple (Shenyang)
# Banruo Temple (Shenyang)

The Banruo Temple (Chinese: 般若寺; pinyin: Bānruò Sì; lit. 'Prajna Temple'), also pronounced Bore, is a Buddhist temple located in Shenhe District of Shenyang, Liaoning, China. The temple occupies an area of 1,000-square-metre (11,000 sq ft) and the total area including temple lands, forests and mountains is over 3,600-square-metre (39,000 sq ft). It is a Bhikkhuni temple.

## History

The Banruo Temple was first established by monk Shi Gulin (释古林) in 1684, in the reign of Kangxi Emperor in the Qing dynasty (1644–1912). The temple has been rebuilt two times in 1909 and 1924 successively.

In 1966, Mao Zedong launched the Cultural Revolution, most parts of Banruo Temple were slightly damaged under the attack of the Red Guards.

After the 3rd Plenary Session of the 11th Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party, according to the national policy of free religious belief, Banruo Temple reactivated its religious activities and was officially reopened to the public. In 1983, Banruo Temple was authorized as a National Key Buddhist Temple in Han Chinese Area by the State Council of China. The local government repaired and renovated the complex. Banruo Temple was designated as a municipal level cultural relic preservation organ in 1985 and a provincial level key cultural heritage in 2015.

## Architecture

The entire temple faces south and divided into two courtyards. The extant buildings include the Hall of Four Heavenly Kings, Mahavira Hall and Buddhist Texts Library.

### Shanmen

Under the eaves of Shanmen is a plaque with the Chinese characters "Banruo Temple" written by calligrapher Feng Ri'an (冯日庵).

### Hall of Four Heavenly Kings

The Maitreya Buddha, Skanda and Four Heavenly Kings' statues are enshrined in the Hall of Four Heavenly Kings.

### Mahavira Hall

The Mahavira Hall is the second hall and most important hall in the temple. Statues of Sakyamuni (middle), Amitabha (left) and Bhaisajyaguru (right) are enshrined in the middle of the hall. At the back of their statues are paintings of Guanyin, Manjushri and Samantabhadra. In front of Sakyamuni stand Ananda and Kassapa Buddha on the left and right. Stone rubbings of Sixteen Arhats hang on both sides of the hall. In the center of the eaves of the hall is a plaque, on which there are the words "Mahavira Hall" written by calligrapher Huo Anrong (霍安荣).

### Hall of Guru

The Hall of Guru was built in 1676. Paintings of 28 Buddhas enshrined in the hall.

