Wofo Temple, or Temple of the Sleeping Buddha, gained its name for the huge Sakyamuni bronze statue in the temple. The body of the Buddha is 5.2 meters long and was completed by seven thousand workers with 25 thousand kilograms of bronze. The Buddha is lying on a couch, head to the west, facing south. His left hand is laid on the leg while the right hand bends to support his head. It is said to be the monument of Sakyamuni.
The twelve smaller Buddha statues standing beside are his disciples. With serious and sorrowful faces, they seem to be listening to Sakyamuni’s last words. A decorative plaque in the middle of the wall is inscribed with the characters “De da zi ran”, which mean that one is totally free when he understood the true meaning of life. Another inscription, on a plaque hanging above the door of the temple, saying “Xing ming heng yue”, explains that the nature of the Buddha is just like the bright eternal moonlight.
The Wofo Temple was built in the West Hills of Beijing, in the area of Shou’an Hill (also called Wuhua Hill). The temple was constructed in accordance with the terrain. Standing in front of the temple, you will find yourself surrounded by the hills on three sides, which is a display of the particularity in the site selection. The construction of Wofo Temple began in times of Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD) and was previously called Doulv Temple. Its name was changed later on, along with the renovations in the successive dynasties.
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