Wukong's filming location, the treasure house of Oriental painted sculpture art - Shuanglin Temple

Shuanglin Temple is located in Qiaotou Village, 6 km southwest of Pingyao Ancient City. It has a history of more than 1,400 years. In the Song Dynasty, it was renamed Shuanglin Temple, meaning "Shuanglin Nirvana," the place where Buddha Shakyamuni attained Nirvana. It is very close to Pingyao High-speed Railway Station, only about 10 minutes by car. You can plan your trip accordingly! More than 1,500 works are all made of wood and clay. They inherit the fine tradition of Tang, Song, Jin, and Yuan painted sculptures in China and are outstanding among Ming sculptures in China. Experts praise them as the "treasure house of Oriental painted sculpture art." Among the painted sculptures of Shuanglin Temple, the Eighteen Arhats best represent the real human image. Since Arhats are close to the human world, craftsmen can easily break through religious limitations and give full play to their realistic skills. The typicality and richness of the Arhat image have given them names full of life, such as "Dragon Tamer," "Tiger Tamer," "Long Eyebrows," "Welcoming Guests," "Health," "Handsome," "Talkative," "Preaching," "Drunk Arhat," "Mute Arhat," "Sick Arhat," "Quiet Arhat," etc. Their original Buddhist names are little known. The sitting posture of Avalokitesvara is unique among all the Bodhisattvas I have seen. The left foot is hanging under the platform, the right foot is on the platform, and the right hand is leisurely resting on the knee. The "freedom" of Avalokitesvara is fully revealed. The most worth seeing painted sculpture in Shuanglin Temple is the statue of Weituo. This statue is a masterpiece, highly praised by experts at home and abroad. It is soft in hardness, literary in martial, mighty but not fierce, wise and brave, full of strength, and strong as a bow. The statue of Weituo is praised by experts as the "crown of Weituo in China." He stands sideways with his right hand clenched, chest out, and weight on his left leg. The torsion and displacement of the torso and neck exceed the limit of the human body, but the whole statue is not artificial or awkward. Although the statue is standing still, the S-shaped curve from head to toe and the flying clothes make people feel strong strength and momentum, perfectly showing the image of a general in life, no longer giving people a sense of being unattainable and not knowing the world. Shuanglin Temple and Zhenguo Temple in Pingyao Ancient City are listed as World Cultural Heritage sites. The ticket price is CNY 35 per person, which is very cost-effective. Entering Shuanglin Temple is like entering a Buddhist world, seeing all gods and beings!