Famen Temple was firstly built in the reign of Emperor Huan and Emperor Ling in the late Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220). Reputed to be the "ancestor of Pagoda Temple in central Shaanxi", it was originally called the Ashoka Temple. Emperor Gaozu, the first king of the Tang Dynasty, later changed its name to Famen Temple. During the Tang Dynasty, six emperors took Sarira, relic of Sakyamuni's finger bone that kept in Famen Temple, to the east capital Luoyang to worship, and Famen Temple truly became a royal temple.
The Buddha's Light Avenue (Foguang Avenue)
The Namaste Stupa
The Famen Temple
On April 8 on Chinese Lunar Calendar,1987, Famen Temple attracted attention from the whole world with the discovery of Shakyamuni Buddha's phalanx relics, accompanied with 2,499 rare treasures from the Tang Dynasty that were buried underground for thousands of years. The finger bone relic of Shakyamuni Buddha together with the three "shadow bone" relics are the most sacred relics for Buddhism, also the only group of special-grade national cultural relics in the cultural relics system of China.
Four finger bone relics of Shakyamuni Buddha
Plastic Coated Glass Bottle in Pale Yellow
with Handicap and Thin Neck
Blue Glass Bottle with Plain Surface,
Surrounding Bottom and Thin Neck
Yellow Glass Plate with Poppy Pattern
Tea Set
Golden Embroidered Half-sleeve Dress
A Monk's Cane with Silver Flowers and 12 Rings
Olive-green porcelain bowl
Blue Glass Plate with Gold Painted Eight Petal Flower
Eight Cases for Buddha's finger relic
The Museum of Famen Temple
With Namaste Stupa as the core, Buddha's Light Avenue the main axis, also the green belts at both sides showcasing the development of Chinese Buddhism, the Famen Temple Cultural Scenic Area well demonstrates the profound history and traditional culture of China.
Night view of Famen Temple Cultural Scenic Area
Buddha's Light Pavillion (Foguang Pavillion)
The lighted Famen Temple Cultural Scenic Area
Panorama of the Famen Temple and Namaste Stupa