Construction of Maitreya Buddha in Xuedou Mountain
1. The site selection started at the end of 2005. With the strong support of Fenghua Municipal Planning Bureau, five well-known architects at home and abroad were invited, including Nanjing University of Technology, Shanghai Tongji, Shanghai East China, Hangzhou, and Taiwan. The design unit conducts design competition bidding for the site selection and conceptual planning of the Giant Buddha Scenic Area. After extensively listening to opinions and suggestions from all parties, the plan of Hangzhou Chen Zhangde Design Institute was unanimously selected.
This plan perfectly combines the Big Buddha and Xuedou Temple, avoiding the defects of limited time and space. The design concept is in line with the momentum of famous Buddhist mountains, basically coordinated with the architectural style of Xuedou Temple, the ecological environment is properly handled, and the functions are sound and perfect. The architecture is elegant and grand, therefore, this plan was determined to be the final site selection and planning winning plan.
2. Construction On September 23, 2005, the State Administration of Religious Affairs approved the construction of an open-air bronze statue of Maitreya Buddha in Xuedou Mountain with the "Guofa [2005] 254" document.
In August 2006, the finalized Buddha statue was processed with a fiberglass replica and sent to Nanjing Chenguang Buddha Statue Casting Company to enlarge it to a 1:5 medium sample.
On October 8, 2006, the first casting ceremony of the bronze statue of the Buddha was solemnly held at the Aerospace Morning Light.
On December 29, 2006, the foundation laying ceremony for the open-air Maitreya Buddha was held grandly in Xuedou Mountain. Former world gymnastics champions Li Ning and Li Xiaoshuang also attended the groundbreaking ceremony of the Buddha.
On the morning of July 7, 2008, with the successful hoisting of the last copper plate, the steel structure and the 1,209 copper components of the Buddha statue were all installed, and the Maitreya Buddha was officially domed. Master Yi Zang, president of the Fenghua Buddhist Association and abbot of Xuedou Temple, and other Buddhist figures held a sprinkling ceremony for the open-air Maitreya Buddha dome. Fenghua Deputy Mayor He Jianbo and other city leaders attended the ceremony.
In November 2008, after three years, with the great care of the government and the strong support of people from all walks of life such as Shifang elders, Dade laymen, and faithful believers Tan Yue, Xuedou with a total investment of nearly 500 million was completed. The first phase of the Shanda Buddha Scenic Area project has been successfully completed.
3. Consecration On the morning of November 8, 2008, the Maitreya Buddha in Xuedou Mountain held a solemn and grand consecration ceremony.
The Fenghua People's Government decided to hold the 2008 China (Fenghua) Xuedou Mountain Maitreya Cultural Festival at the same time as the consecration ceremony of the Giant Buddha.
The consecration ceremony brought together political, business, cultural, performing arts, Buddhist, tourism, press, tourists and believers from all over the Taiwan Strait, including Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan. Thousands of people.
Elder Yicheng, President of the Buddhist Association of China, Master Hsing Yun, founder of Fo Guang Shan in Taiwan, Elder Wei Xian, Vice Chairman of the Advisory Committee of the Buddhist Association of China, Gen, Vice President of the Buddhist Association of China and President of Shanxi Buddhist Association Elder Tong, Vice President of the Chinese Buddhist Association and President of the Shanghai Buddhist Association, Master Xingxing, Master Kuanyun, the abbot of the Western Temple in Hong Kong, Master Jieren, vice president of the Chinese Buddhist Association and President of the Zhejiang Buddhist Association, Master Fazhao, the abbot of the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple in Singapore, Master Yi Zang, the abbot of Xuedou Temple in Fenghua, Ningbo, Zhejiang, Elder Yuanshan, the master of Shurangama Temple in Yingkou City, Liaoning Province, Master Zhaoyuan, president of Liaoning Buddhist Association, Master Miaojiang, president of Wutaishan Buddhist Association in Shanxi, Master Chengxin, president of Ningbo Buddhist Association , Master Longyin, the abbot of Guiyuan Zen Temple in Wuhan, Elder Hengyue, the abbot of Dinghui Temple in Rugao, Nantong City, Jiangsu Province, Master Changshan, the abbot of Dailuoding in Mount Wutai, Shanxi, Master Kexiang, the abbot of Qita Zen Temple in Ningbo, Zhejiang, and Abbot of Guanghua Temple in Beijing Master Yixue, abbot of Jingjue Temple in Daqing, Master Benying, abbot of Wenshu Monastery in Sichuan, Master Zongxing, vice president and secretary-general of Zhejiang Putuo Mountain Buddhist Association, Master Weihang, abbot of Lingyin Temple in Hangzhou, Master Guangquan, abbot of Daxiangguo Temple in Henan Master Xinguang, Master Yanjue, the abbot of Guangji Temple in Beijing, Master Longxiang, the abbot of Qixia Temple in Nanjing, Master Guanglin, the abbot of Xuefeng Temple in Fuzhou, Fujian, Master Miao'an of Miduo Temple in Wuning County, Jiangxi Province, Master Changming of the Legal Affairs Department of the Buddhist Association of China, and many others at home and abroad. Elder Shan *** is also the presiding officer of the Dharma Assembly.
Thousands of believers were delighted with the Dharma.
On the day of the Dharma Assembly, the autumn rain continued like the nectar of the Dharma rain, the clouds and mist drifted like the Buddhist paradise, the bells and drums rang out from time to time, and the sound of sutras continued. The scene was solemn, solemn and sacred.
Finally, with Elder Yicheng's "Open", a string of fireworks soared into the sky next to the Buddha, like five-colored auspicious clouds hovering over the head of the Buddha. They lingered for a long time, making people feel pious and reverent.