Zhangye Grand Buddha Temple, formerly known as Kasyapa Tathagata Temple, houses the largest indoor Nirvana statue of the Reclining Buddha in China. It is an important scenic spot on the Silk Road. According to historical records, the Western Xia State Master Wei Qi unearthed a re

Zhangye Great Buddha Temple, formerly known as Kasyapa Tathagata Temple, has the largest indoor Nirvana statue of the Reclining Buddha in China. It is an important scenic spot on the Silk Road. According to historical records Xixia , after listening to Tianle here, Wei Qi, the state master, excavated a reclining Buddha covered with green tiles. This Buddha was the Nirvana Buddha statue in Beiliang. This incident caused a sensation. Wei Qi took this as an opportunity to appeal, and gained the support of Chongzong and Li Qianshun of Xixia, and ordered the construction of the Reclining Buddha Temple. After the majestic hall was completed, how to build a huge reclining Buddha statue became a problem. Wei Qi thought about it day and night, and suddenly dreamed that a magical craftsman walked into the hall, lay on his side and became feathers, and finally only the skeleton remained.

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Wei Qi was inspired. He first used wooden keels to make the skeleton of the Reclining Buddha, nailed wooden boards to the outside, and then painted the clay skin. In half a month, the 34.5-meter-long giant statue of the Reclining Buddha was built. This approach of integrating sculpture and architectural art has become a major innovation in the history of Chinese sculpture. Since then, Zhangye Great Buddha Temple has entered the ranks of Xixia royal temples. As a royal temple, the most prominent historical relic about the royal family in Zhangye Grand Buddha Temple is about Kublai Khan, the founder of the Yuan Dynasty. According to legend, Kublai Khan's mother, Queen Mother Beji, once lived in the Great Buddha Temple. Kublai Khan was born here and had a deep affection for the Great Buddha Temple. After the death of his mother, Queen Mother Beji, Kublai Khan enshrined her body in the Great Buddha Temple and built a temple for her here, where she enjoyed incense for thousands of years. Today, the Reclining Buddha has become the largest indoor wooden Buddha statue in China.