Located at No. 15 Wenshu Yuan Street, Wenshu Monastery, is one of the most well-preserved Buddhist temples in Chengdu. It is also home to the Sichuan Buddhist Association. Wenshu Monastery, initially built in the Tang Dynasty, was once called Xinxiang Temple. In 1681, during the reign of Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty, an accomplished Buddhist monk named Cidu came to the monastery. He built a simple hut between two trees and led a simple life in the hut. Legend has it that the statue of Wensu appeared in the flames when Cidu was cremated. Thus, people revered Cidu as the reincarnation of the Bodhisattva Manjusri. Since then, Xinxiang Temple has gotten its name Wenshu Monastery.
Apart from the legend behind it, Wenshu Monastery has many cultural relics to offer. More than 500 pieces of painting and calligraphy were created by famous scholars and calligraphers from various dynasties that have been stored there since the Tang and Song dynasties. In the Sutra-Preservation Pavilion, you will feast your eyes to the precious artworks by celebrities, including Zhang Daqian, Zheng Banqiao, and Feng Zikai. Of all the precious relics, the rarest piece is the broken skull of Xuan Zhang, a renowned monk of the Tang Dynasty. Another treasure is a delicate jade Buddha statue coming from Burma in 1922 by Xing Lin who was a Buddhist monk who walked all the way to China. In addition, Wenshu Monastery houses exquisite gardens and halls. Tea houses are available for you to sit down and take in the local lifestyle while listening to folk music.
