¡¡¡¡Yunxiang Temple was built initially at the 4th year of Liang Tianjian years at Southern Dynasty (505 AD). Its original name is White Wane Nanxiang Temple. The temple reached its highest power and splendors at Tang Dynasty when it occupied a broad land that is 180 mu. During Shaoding years at Song Dynasty, the temple changed its name into Nanxiang Temple that was bestowed by an emperor named Zhaoyun. In 1700 AD, it changed name again into Yunxiang Temple that was bestowed by Kangxi emperor of Qing Dynasty. Unluckily, Yunxiang Temple was destroyed and devastated by natural disasters and human for. At present, only the Twin Towers are standing there as before. Also some relics lie separately in Guyi Garden. They are stoned pagodas of Tang Dy6nasty and Putong Tower of Song Dynasty.
¡¡¡¡Dating back to its history, Yunxiang Temple was a famous temple in the southern Yangtze area and now it is enjoying its popularity and reputation in Shanghai, even abroad. To be more relieved, after its restoration, it has been more famous with a brand-new outlook. We can also call the temple as Liuyun Temple. This name comes from another temple with the same name lying in southern part of Shanghai. At present, Yunxiang Temple occupies 15 mu (about 1000 square meters) with magnificent scale and reasonable layout. Its overall arrangement includes three main parts from outside to inside, all lying along the central axis. They are the main gate, Mercy Buddha Hall, Grand Hall, Depositary of Buddhist Texts. Other buildings and halls are also located with perfect symmetrical arrangement from left to right. They are Qielan Hall, Bell Tower, Drum Tower, Wenshu Hall, Puxian Hall, Guest Hall, Monk¡¯s Cell etc. these halls are surrounded by balcony. Besides, Benevolence Hall and Millions of Buddha Hall were built underground. Yunxiang Temple is the first temple in southern Yangtze area that was restored with distinguishing features resembling construction style of Tang Dynasty. The temple is splendorous, simple and natural. Furthermore, it¡¯s also the first temple, among all other temples in Shanghai, which uses concrete to imitate wooden construction. Yunxiang Temple integrates ancient and ethnic features into modern construction technology and materials successfully. Today, Yunxiang Temple is the place where you can pray to Buddhist statues with solemn atmosphere and it is also the place where you can come for mortification and monastic with quiet and beautiful surroundings. Yunxiang Temple can make you feel relaxed and way above par. Here, you can get to realize the truth of universe and Buddhism and get your soul purified.
¡¡¡¡When it was built up, Yunxiang Temple made its own guidelines, that is ¡°to regulate all Buddhist monks with strict sila and rules, to treat believers or others equally, to propagate Buddha doctrines with practices, to influence and reform living creatures with sincerity¡±. In order to do better and achieve more, Yunxiang Temple has established the Buddhist Propagation and Benevolence Committee. ¡°Thriftiness, benevolence, alms, mercy¡± are advocated among Buddhist devotees. The committee calls on all its members to obey the idea of economization in everyday life. If every committee member can economize a little electricity, water, food etc every day, it will not be difficult to save one yuan every day for every member. By doing this, the members will form thrifty life outlook gradually. With money saved by all committee members and devotees, the committee is devoted to social beneficial deeds. Their terminal aim is servicing our society. This gets unanimous good evaluation and appreciation from all levels of the society. With these guidelines, we believe Yunxiang Temple will make great contribution to the development of Chinese Buddhism and the construction of harmonious society.
