Famen Temple

Famen Temple is located in Famen town in the north of Fufeng County about 110 kilometers from Xi’an to the east. It was initially built in the later period of the Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220), thrived in the Sui Dynasty (581-618), and reached its prime period in the Tang Dynasty (618-907). During this time, it was known as “The Imperial Temple” by a number of emperors throughout Chinese history. Here, Famen Temple is famous all over the world as a holy Buddhist destination due its holding of Sakyamuni’s (the main figure of Buddhism) finger bones.

Famen Temple has had a unique history. On August 24, 1981, the pagoda in Famen Temple fell, but it was rebuilt in February 1986. Then on April 3, 1987, the Tang Cellar beneath the pagoda was discovered along with 2,499 pieces of priceless national treasures unearthed within, including 4 pieces of Sakyamuni’s finger relics, 121 gold and silver wares from the Tang royal court, glass wares from the ancient Roman Empire, and thousand of silk products. The precious artifacts are of great value in the history of Chinese politics, culture, science, art, and Chinese & foreign cultural intercommunication. In 1998, the International Buddha’s Finger Relics Exhibition was held successfully in Famen Temple, where more than 300 prominent monks from all over the world participated in the exhibition and spoke highly of it. Over the last 10 years, a number of ancient Tang architectures have been successively established in the temple area led by the charge of Master Jing Yi, including Heavenly King Hall, Jade Buddha Hall, Meditation Hall, and the Dinning Hall. On May 25, 2006, Famen Temple was listed as a Key Cultural Relic under state protection by the State Council.

Today, Famen Temple holds 5 exhibition areas, namely the Historical Culture Exhibition Area, Buddhist Culture Exhibition Area, Tantrist Mandala Culture Exhibition Area, Tang Treasure Exhibition Area, and Tea Culture Exhibition Area. Also, it is a global Buddhist pilgrimage center, Buddhist culture research center, and a holy tourism scenic area.

The collections in Famen Temple
1. Gold and Silver Wares
Over 120 gold and silver wares are kept in the temple, functioning as imperial sacrificial vessels for meeting Buddha’s relics in the Tang Dynasty. They are of perfect workmanship and great archaeological significance, and includes golden bowls, silver teapots, and silver-lidded mugs.
2. Glass Wares
Over 20 pieces of glass wares are preserved in the temple in the forms of plates, saucers, and bowls. The items’ style were greatly influenced by the ancient Roman Empire, and they were as precious as gold and silver during the Tang Dynasty.
3. Silk Products
Many silk products were unearthed from the cellar of Famen Temple which demonstrate the great achievements made in the Tang Dynasty. Most of them were enshrined and worshipped by Tang empresses, including a silk skirt donated by Emperor Wu Zetian.
4. The Statues of Buddha
There are 98 statues of Buddha enshrined in the niches of the temple, and many of the niches are filled with sutras.
5. Buddhist Dagoba and Buddha Halo Avenue
The Buddhist dagoba in Famen Temple is 148 meters tall and boasts the tallest dagoba in the world. In the front of the tower is the wide Buddha Halo Avenue which measures 1,230 meters long and 108 meters wide, and is decorated by golden statues of Buddha on each side. At the end of the avenue are Pilgrim Square and Mountain Gate Square, respectively.

Address: Famen Town in the north of Fufeng County, Xi’an
Opening hours: 8:00 am to 5:30 pm from March to November; 8:00 am to 5:00 from November to February
Bus routes: a direct bus from Xi’an Chengxi Bus Station