Nestled in the midst of Yutang Street, the Mahayana Zen Temple is a hermitage dedicated to the worship of Sakyamuni. Originally a thatched hut, in 1915, monks from Hui Ji Temple, led by Qingxiang, collaborated with overseas compatriots to transform the hermitage into a branch of Hui Ji Temple. In terms of the scale of the land it occupies, it can be regarded as the crown among the hermitages of Mount Putuo. Its blue buildings and yellow walls are particularly striking.
Its main hall, the Yuantong Treasure Hall, houses the ‘Water Moon Guanyin Statue,’ which can be considered a top-tier masterpiece among the statues of Guanyin Bodhisattva. Water Moon Guanyin is one of the thirty-three forms of Guanyin, known for its resplendent attire and graceful posture, and is often referred to as the Eastern Mona Lisa or the Eastern Venus. Behind it lies the Reclining Buddha Hall, where the reclining Buddha is a seven-colored painted statue of Sakyamuni. The Buddha’s body is 7.6 meters long, with his right hand pillowing his ear, lying on his side, and exuding a peaceful and contented demeanor. In the center of the hall, there is also a Burmese white jade reclining Buddha statue.
