Introduction

There was a time when nineteen Asoka Temples dotted China, but now the Asoka Temple in Ningbo is the only existing ancient temple. The Asoka Temple is noted for a preserved parietal bone of Sakyamuni, the founder of Buddhism. It plays an important role in the history of Chinese Buddhism as well as Sino-India Buddhism cultural exchanges and enjoys a high reputation among Buddhist monks and pilgrims at home and abroad.The temple has experienced destruction and reconstruction in its long history. Standing on a hillside, the temple is renowned for its majestic architecture and splendid scenery, consisting of 600 halls, rooms, pavilions, and towers. Halls particularly worth visiting are the Heaven Guardian Hall, the Main Hall, Buddha-worshipping Hall, Buddhist Relics Hall and Buddhist Sutra Hall. The existing Main Hall was constructed and renovated in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1840), and visitors can find the tablet engraved with words by the Emperor Qianlong. The Sarira Hall built in 1678 holds the parietal bone of Sakyamuni but it is not open to the public.With exquisite decorations and strong Buddhism culture, Asoka Temple is famed for its ancient buildings, delicate gardens, colorful paintings, rare cultural relics and attractive environment. Every year countless tourists and disciples from both home and abroad visit the charming Buddhist temple.