|
Temple of the Eight Immortals, Xian Address: the Eastern Pass, Xian, Shanxi
Traveling route: go by city bus in Xian Phone: 86-29-3237725, 2480994 The Baxian Temple (Temple of Eight Immortals), also known as the Baxian Palace and located at the Changle lane, Dongguan District, Xian City, is a famous Taoist architecture in Northwest China and also the biggest Taoist temple in Xian City. Ba Xian An Monastery (Temple of the Eight Immortals), as its name indicates, is mainly dedicated to the legendary Eight Immortals Han Zhongli, Zhang Guolao, Han Xiangzi, Tieguai Li, Cao Guojiu, Lv Dongbin, Lan Caihe and He Xiangu. It is said that there are eight immortals that always do good deed for human beings and they are therefore much respected by people. The monastery is said to be built in the Song Dynasty (960-1279), and was repaired and expanded many times in succeeding dynasties. The structures that can be seen today were mainly built in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). The Baxian Temple now covers an area of over 73,000 square meters, and it can be divided into three parts from the Temple Gate to the Back Hall, not counting Mountain Gate, Paifang, Screen Wall, the Bell Tower and Drum Tower. The first section includes five halls, dedicating to the protective god of Taoism-Wang Lingguan. The second section has two halls, and the color-painted statues of the Eight Immortals are worshiped in the back hall. The third section is the Main Hall with a tablet hanging on its lintel. The four characters 'Dong Tian Yun Ji' was inscribed on the tablet by Empress Dowager Cixi. Inside the hall, sacrifices were made to Dou Mu Yuan Jun (a high ranked god in Taoism) and other gods. Its annexes contain Lvzu (Lv Dongbin) Hall and Yaowang (King of Chinese medicine) Hall on the east and accommodations for Taoists on the west. Besides visiting the monastery and burning incenses to pray for felicity, you should also look around the street outside the monastery. Many curios like bronze mirrors, folding screen, four treasures of study, gallipots, porcelain and folding fans are sold here, most of which were commodities of the common people in olden times. Ba Xian An Monastery is a popular and important spot for Taoist celebrations in Shaanxi Province. Many festivals, fairs and religious activities take place here and so this place attracts many tourists round the year.
|
