Jing'an si 靜安寺

Jìng'ān sì 靜安寺 Location: Shànghǎi 上海, Jìng'ān District 靜安區, Nánjīng West Road 南京西路 Other names: * Hùdú chóngyuán sì 滬瀆重元寺 (original name) Yǒngtài chán sì 永泰禪寺 (Táng 唐)

Jìng'ān Temple

First Founded 274 (Eastern Wú 東吳, Chìwū 赤烏 10)

Lineage: Esoteric Buddhism 密宗 Status: Public (十方叢林)

Institution section editor: Erik Hammerstrom

Jìng'ān sì 靜安寺 is one of the most important Buddhist temples in Shànghǎi 上海.

History

This temple traces its origins to the Hùdú chóngyuán Temple 滬瀆重元寺, which was established at a nearby location under the Eastern Wú 東吳. It was given its current name in 1008 (Xiángfú 祥符 1). In 1216 (Jiādìng 嘉定 9) the temple was moved from its first location, which was too close to the river, to its present location. The temple was destroyed in 1860 during the Tàipíng Rebellion, but was rebuilt in 1880 (Guāngxù 光緒 6). From that year until 1963 the temple hosted a temple fair 廟會 that was central to the life of people in Shànghǎi. In 1908, Shànghǎi's first electric tram line originated from Jìng'ān Temple.

Chísōng 持松 became abbot of the temple after the Second Sino-Japanese War in 1947. He invited Dùhuán 度寰 to move to the temple in 1952, and together they taught esoteric Buddhism 密教. They held esoteric rites there in 1953, erecting various esoteric altars 密宗壇場 for that purpose. Chísōng's tenure at the temple is still strongly respected and his move to turn the temple into a center for esoteric Buddhism will be further institutionalized in a planned memorial hall to him, to be called the Master Chísōng, Great Worthy of the Zhenyan School Memorial Hall 真言宗大德持松法師紀念堂.

After liberalization, rebuilding of the temple began in 1984. It was opened to the public in 1990.

Personnel

Important Abbots

• Chísōng 持松 (1947 - Cultural Revolution)
• Dùhuán 度寰 1987 - 1988 (death)

Notable Residents

• Dàxǐng 大醒 (1937 - 19??)
• Zhīfēng 芝峰 (1937 - 1943; off and on)

Temple Institution

Important Buildings or Artifacts

• Esoteric Altars (All Located in the Abbot's Hall)
  • 孔雀壇
  • 護摩壇
  • 大壇
  • 聖天壇
  • 諸天壇

Associated Organizations and Groups

Notes

References

• Sū Zhèshēng 蘇浙生. Shénzhōu fójìng 神州佛鏡 (Buddhist Regions of Shénzhōu). Shanghai: Shanghai guji, 2003. Pp. 171-173.
• Entry for 靜安寺 from Chinese Wikipedia.