Jing'an Temple (静安寺)
A Modern Temple to Consumerism
Phone: (021) 6256 6366
Hours: 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Admission: 20 RMB
Nearest Public Transit: Jingan Temple Station, Line 2
Jing'an Temple (静安寺) or the temple of peace and tranquility, is a Buddhist temple on West Nanjing Road, in Jing'an District, right above the #2 Subway Line.
The temple was first built in 247 AD, at the time of the Kingdom of Wu, during the Three Kingdoms period. Originally located beside Suzhou Creek, it was relocated to its current site in 1216 during the Song Dynasty. The current temple was rebuilt once in the Qing Dynasty. During the Cultural Revolution, it was converted into a plastics factory. It was converted back to an active temple following reconstruction in 1983 and most recently renovated in 2003.
The complex includes three Southern-style main halls, each with its own courtyard, dating from the 1880 reconstruction (Hall of Heavenly Kings, Hall of the Three Saints and the Hall of Virtuous Works). The Precious Hall of the Great Hero will be four stories tall after renovations are complete. To the east of the main hall is Guanyin Hall. In the center of it is a camphor wood statue of the goddess. Standing on a lotus-shaped base, she is 6.2 meters tall and weighs 5 tons.
Jing'an Temple does a great job of representing Shanghai's current spirituality but not of representing Buddhism. The temple was completely overhauled in 2003 in conjunction with a new shopping mall by its side. The result is a cold and clean temple that feels brand new because it is. The temple has sold its borders to local vendors who have set up shop inside the external walls of the temple. They hawk everything from incense to antiques of questionable origins. Yet somehow this all fits with Shanghai whose city god now must be money and shopping. The adjoining mall with Gucci bags, Rolex watches and 9 floors of the latest fashion is more representative of what most in Shanghai pray for today. Further down Nanjing West Street are some of the fanciest shops in the city and as expensive as anything you can find in New York, London or Paris. So although Jingan Temple offers little in the way of Buddhist faith, it is a great starting point to a walk along the cities "fifth avenue" and a look at the faith of today.
