Nanchan Temple

For the Buddhist temple in Kyoto, Japan, see Nanzen-ji. For the metro station in Wuxi, China, see Nanchan Temple station.
Nanchan Temple
The Great Buddha Hall of Nanchan Temple. A small timber building with massive overhanging eaves with a bright blue sky behind it.
The Great Buddha Hall of Nanchan Temple
Religion
AffiliationBuddhism
ProvinceShanxi
Location
LocationMount Wutai
Nanchan Temple is located in Shanxi
Nanchan Temple
Shown within Shanxi
Nanchan Temple is located in China
Nanchan Temple
Nanchan Temple (China)
Geographic coordinates38°42′04″N 113°06′50″E / 38.70111°N 113.11389°E / 38.70111; 113.11389
Architecture
Completed782
Tang dynasty

Nanchan Temple (Chinese: 南禪寺; pinyin: Nánchán Sì) is a Buddhist temple located near the town of Doucun on Mount Wutai, Shanxi, China. Nanchan Temple was built in 782 during China's Tang dynasty, and its Great Buddha Hall is currently China's oldest preserved timber building extant, as wooden buildings are often prone to fire and various destruction. Not only is Nanchan Temple an important architectural site, but it also contains an original set of artistically important Tang sculptures dating from the period of its construction. Seventeen sculptures share the hall's interior space with a small stone pagoda.