Introduction about Shanghai Long Huai Temple
It was first built in 242 AD during the period of the Three Kingdoms, Longhua Temple is the oldest ,biggest temple in Shanghai for its long history of over 1700 years. Because of the several destructions by the wars, most of the buildings in Longhua Temple were reconstructed during the reign of the Emperor Tongzhi and Guangxu in the Qing Dynasty.
Along the axis of the temple sit langhing Buddaha Hall,.Emperor hall,Supereme Hall,Three Saviors’Hall and Arch—Bishop Room,Flanked by bell Tower and Drum Tower.
As Longhua temple is dedicated to the Maitreya Buddha, it holds two important statues of the Buddha’s Bodhisattva form,while in the Maritreya Hall is a statue of Maitreya Buddha’s incarnation form knownas the”Cloth Bag Monk”,But ,differently from other temples where either the 18 arhats who preach Buddahism or the 20” Guardians of Buddhist Law” stand on two sides of the hall,here, they stand together.
