Famen Temple, established in the late Eastern Han Dynasty, rose to prominence during the Northern Wei and flourished in the Sui and Tang Dynasties. Known as the “Royal Temple,” it gained international attention as a significant Buddhist site due to the enshrinement of a finger bone relic of Shakyamuni Buddha, earning the title “Ancestral Temple of the Pagodas in Guanzhong.”
The temple complex consists of four main parts: the True Body Relic Pagoda, the Mahavira Hall, the underground palace, and the Famen Temple Museum (Treasures Hall). The pagoda itself is a remarkable thirteen-story octagonal brick structure designed to resemble wooden architecture. Above the second level, each floor houses bronze Buddha statues, totaling 88 throughout the entire pagoda, which highlights the temple’s artistic and cultural significance.
Travel Information about Famen Temple
Tickets and Opening Hours
Tickets:
- Peak season (March to November) 120 yuan
- Off-season (December to February) 90 yuan
Opening hours:
- March to December: 8:30 AM – 7:00 PM
- December to February: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Transportation to the Scenic Area
Location: Famen Town, 10 kilometers north of Fengxiang County, Baoji City.
Transportation:
- Take the Blessing Journey bus from Xi’an Railway Station to Famen Temple Buddhist Culture Scenic Area, which departs when full between 7:30 AM and 10:30 AM daily.
- Take the Blessing Journey bus from the west gate of the Tang Paradise, which also goes directly to the scenic area, departing when full between 8:00 AM and 10:30 AM daily.
Attraction Rating
Cultural: ★★★★
Features: ★★★
Leisure: ★★
Beauty: ★★★
Romance: ★★
Thrill: ★★
Highlights of Famen Temple
True Body Relic Pagoda
Famen Temple is renowned for its True Body Relic Paogda, which is named for housing the true body relic of the Buddha. Initially referred to as the “Sacred Tomb,” the tower was originally a four-tier wooden structure built during the Tang Dynasty, later transformed into a brick tower in the Ming Dynasty. The pagoda consists of 13 levels and is octagonal in shape, standing at 47 meters tall, designed to resemble a wooden structure. Inside the tower, starting from the second level, each floor features bronze Buddha statues, with a total of 88 statues throughout the pagoda. This impressive architecture and the sacred relic make Famen Temple a significant site for Buddhist worship and tourism.
Knowledge about Relics:
Relics originally refer to the remains and gem-like substances left after the cremation of the Buddhist founder, Shakyamuni Buddha. In Sanskrit, relics are called “sarira” or “sārīraka,” which translates to terms like “spiritual bones,” “body bones,” or “remains” in Chinese. These refer to the crystallized forms left behind after a person has passed away and been cremated.
However, relics are entirely different from ordinary human bones. They can take various shapes, including round, oval, and even lotus-like forms, and some resemble Buddhas or Bodhisattvas. Their colors can vary widely, with common hues being white, black, green, and red, along with many other colors. Some relics look like pearls, while others resemble agate, crystal, or even shine brightly like diamonds.
Records indicate that over two thousand years ago, after the cremation of Shakyamuni’s body, relics were formed. To promote Buddhism, Emperor Ashoka of India distributed these relics throughout the world, establishing stupas at each location where relics were found for worship. In China, there are nineteen such sites, with Famen Temple being the fifth.
He Shi Relic Tower
He Shi Relic Tower at Famen Temple stands at 148 meters tall, designed in the shape of two hands in a prayer gesture, symbolizing the ritual characteristics of Buddhism, its fundamental concepts, and humanity’s pursuit of peace. At the center is a stupa-like structure housing the relic of the Buddha’s finger. In front of the relic tower, there is a “Buddha Light Avenue” that stretches 1,500 meters, flanked by enormous Buddha statues carved from granite.
The He Shi Relic Tower comprises both an above-ground and an underground section, totaling six levels. At the center of the underground chamber is a statue representing the incarnate form of Shakyamuni Buddha. In front of this statue lies a relic box containing the only known relic of Shakyamuni’s finger bone in the world. Additionally, the first basement level features a treasure exhibition room showcasing various relics and artifacts.
Underground Palace
The Underground Palace is located beneath the He Shi Relic Tower, featuring a dazzling interior adorned with exquisite gold and vivid colors. The walls are decorated with relief sculptures that depict various stories about the Buddha. This remarkable chamber, which has survived for over a thousand years, is the largest underground palace discovered in a Buddhist stupa in China.
Most importantly, the palace contains four Buddhist finger bone relics, which are currently regarded as the highest sacred objects in Buddhism. These relics have a lustrous white hue and a translucent quality reminiscent of jade, making them truly extraordinary.
Unearthed Treasures from Underground Palace:
The discovery of the Underground Palace has unveiled a magnificent treasure trove of Tang Dynasty culture that had been buried for 1,113 years. This collection includes 121 pieces (or sets) of gold and silver artifacts offered to the royal family, a newly discovered series of secret-color porcelain from the Tang royal court, glassware from ancient Rome and other regions, Buddhist scriptures, and over a thousand exquisite silk (and gold) textiles showcasing the silk weaving craftsmanship of the Tang Dynasty. Among these are the embroidered skirts and garments of Empress Wu Zetian and other Tang emperors, all of which are considered rare treasures.
A total of four relics were discovered in the Underground Palace, arranged according to the order of their excavation. The third relic is the genuine Buddha bone relic, with two made of white jade and the other being a relic of a high monk’s finger. These three are categorized as “shadow bones,” placed together with the true Buddha finger bone relic, known as “spiritual bone,” for protection. The “spiritual bone” is yellow and features bone-like secretions. Expert identification confirms that this relic is indeed the true physical bone of the Buddha. The genuine Buddha finger relic is publicly displayed on the first and fifteenth days of each lunar month, as well as on weekends and during the Buddha’s birthday on the eighth day of the fourth lunar month.
Treasure Hall
The Treasure Hall, also known as the Famen Temple Museum, primarily focuses on collecting, preserving, and showcasing precious artifacts unearthed from the Tang Dynasty Underground Palace of Famen Temple. This includes the royal secret-color porcelain series, the embroidered skirt of Empress Wu Zetian, the highest Buddhist ceremonial implement—a twelve-ringed silver staff—and the tortoiseshell Kaiyuan Tongbao coins, among others. The main structure of the museum, the Treasure Pavilion, is built in the style of the gilded copper stupas unearthed from the Underground Palace. It is grand and unique, complementing the temple’s true relic tower.
Avenue of Buddha Light
The Avenue of Buddha Light runs alongside the He Shi Relic Tower and stretches 1,230 meters, symbolizing the path to enlightenment. Designed according to the Buddhist principle of “Five Periods of Teaching,” the avenue features ten Bodhisattvas on either side, representing the causes leading to Buddhahood, while the Buddha embodies the results of those causes. Walking along the Avenue of Buddha Light allows visitors to experience the journey from the causes of Bodhisattvas to the attainment of Buddhahood, providing a spiritual baptism for the soul.
Oriental Great Buddha Palace
The Oriental Great Buddha Palace is a newly constructed site featuring an outdoor statue of the Great Buddha that stands 48 meters tall, serving as the centerpiece of the palace. Additional Buddha statues are positioned in the southeast, southwest, northwest, and northeast directions. The exterior of the Oriental Great Buddha Palace is grand and impressive, creating a striking contrast with the pagoda. Visitors can ascend through the Buddha’s abdomen via an escalator to reach the summit, where they can enjoy breathtaking panoramic views of the surrounding landscape for miles.
Top Ten World Records of Famen Temple
1. The True Relics of Buddha: One of the most remarkable features of Famen Temple is the discovery of the Buddha’s finger relics in its underground palace. Among these relics are one gold relic and three shadow relics, which are documented and confirmed by inscriptions as belonging to Shakyamuni Buddha. These relics are considered the highest sacred objects in the Buddhist world, revered for their spiritual significance and historical importance.
2. The Underground Palace: The temple’s underground palace is the oldest, largest, and highest-grade Buddhist pagoda crypt discovered to date. This grand structure not only showcases the architectural prowess of ancient Chinese builders but also serves as a significant site for Buddhist archaeology, revealing insights into the practices and beliefs of early Buddhism.
3. Display of Cultural Artifacts: The method of displaying artifacts within the underground palace represents the earliest known mandala of the Vajrayana tradition from the Tang Dynasty. This unique arrangement reflects the temple’s role in the dissemination of Buddhist teachings and its importance in the spiritual practices of the time.
4. Rare Currency Discoveries: Among the over 27,000 coins found in the underground palace, 13 unique tortoiseshell “Kaiyuan Tongbao” coins stand out as the earliest known tortoiseshell currency in the world. These coins provide crucial insights into the economic practices of the Tang Dynasty and highlight the temple’s historical significance as a center of trade and commerce.
5. Ancient Imperial Tea Sets: The excavation also uncovered a complete set of imperial tea ware, recognized as the earliest and most complete set discovered globally. This finding challenges previous assumptions about Japan being the birthplace of tea culture, demonstrating that China had an established tea culture long before Japan’s.
6. Grand Buddhist Implements: Among the discoveries is a large double-wheel twelve-ringed bronze staff, measuring 1.96 meters. This staff is the oldest, largest, highest-grade, and most exquisitely crafted Buddhist ceremonial implement found to date, showcasing the craftsmanship of the era.
7. Secret-Color Porcelain: The underground palace yielded 13 pieces of secret-color porcelain, which are the earliest known examples confirmed by inscriptions. These exquisite artifacts reflect the advanced ceramic techniques of the Tang Dynasty and are a testament to the era’s artistic achievements.
8. Silk Artifacts: More than 700 silk textiles were found, representing nearly every type of silk product and weaving technique from the Tang Dynasty. This collection is often referred to as a treasure trove of Tang silk, marking an unprecedented archaeological discovery in the field of ancient textiles.
9. Exquisite Relic Casket: The eight-layered casket that houses the fourth finger relic is noted for being the most beautifully crafted and the highest-grade relic casket discovered in the world. This exquisite craftsmanship exemplifies the artistic and cultural sophistication of the time.
10. Mandala Altar: Lastly, the gilded silver casket that holds the third true relic of the Buddha is adorned with intricate engravings of the Vajradhatu Mandala featuring 45 deities. This is currently recognized as the earliest discovered mandala altar in the world, adding further significance to the temple’s rich heritage.
Visitor Guide for Famen Temple
Accommodation Options
After exploring, visitors can return to Xi’an or Baoji for accommodation. If the journey feels too rushed, staying in Famen Town or Fufeng County is also an option.
Fufeng Guanzhong Fengqing Garden (扶风关中风情园) is located on East Dajie in the new district of Fufeng County, just 4 kilometers north of Famen Temple and adjacent to the Fata Highway. The hotel features traditional Ming and Qing architectural styles, reflecting the residential buildings of the Guanzhong region. The courtyard offers local snacks, handmade workshops, and a rural ambiance all in one place. The hotel has a dining capacity of 2,000 and 420 beds, providing an immersive experience of the unique local culture. For inquiries, you can contact them at 0917-5218888.
Food Options
Along both sides of the road near the Famen Temple site, there are many restaurants and snack stalls. For those wanting to try vegetarian dishes, you can visit the Foguang Pavilion in the Famen Temple Cultural Scenic Area, which features a vegetarian restaurant and five private dining rooms rich in Buddhist cultural ambiance.
Best Time to Visit
The true relics can only be viewed during holidays and on the 1st and 15th of each lunar month. Additionally, the Treasure Museum houses many treasures from a thousand years ago, which are very valuable for viewing.
At the end of April, Baoji hosts the Famen Temple International Cultural Tourism Festival and the Famen Temple Tourism Climbing Festival, featuring numerous folk activities.