BUDDHA TOOTH RELIC TEMPLE AND MUSEUM

Description

Essentials about the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Museum in brief

If you look at the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple & Museum located in Chinatown from the outside, you may well feel transported to Tang Dynasty China. However, the fact is that the Buddhist temple is much more recent. It was built only in 2007. However, the beautiful and rich interior of the temple tells centuries-old stories.

The relic of the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple

The name of the temple derives from a relic that Buddhists believe to be the left canine tooth of Buddha. It was rescued from a funeral pyre in Kushinagar, India, and is now the centerpiece of the temple in the so-called Sacred Light Hall on the fourth floor. The Buddha Tooth Relic is housed in a huge and incredible 3.5-ton stupa made of 320 kilograms of gold. Temple visitors, however, must be content to view the tooth relic from the public viewing area, as only monks are allowed to enter the relic chamber.

The museum in the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple

Those who want to learn more about Buddhist culture should visit the Buddhist Culture Museum on the third floor of the temple. The museum informs about the history and spiritual background of Buddhism with about 300 Buddhist objects from China, Myanmar, Thailand and other Asian countries. Visitors are also welcome during the prayer ceremonies in the temple.

Other attractions in the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Museum

If so much spiritual input makes you hungry, you can join a tea ceremony in the tea house on the second floor of the temple and fortify yourself with vegetarian dishes. If, on the other hand, you prefer a little peace and quiet amidst the hustle and bustle of Chinatown, you should retreat to the roof garden with its pagoda and the Buddha prayer wheel.

Guided tours of the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Museum

And for those who want to learn more about the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple & Museum, one of the guided tours conducted by temple volunteers is highly recommended. They guide visitors in about two hours through the different floors and halls of the temple and museum. Finally, an important note: As the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple & Museum is an active religious center, visitors should dress accordingly (and avoid sleeveless shirts and too short skirts).