Gude Temple

If you're in Wuhan, you must take the person you love to the Good Virtue Temple (Gude Temple) at least once! It's said that praying for marriage here is particularly efficacious. There are only two Good Virtue Temples left in the world. One is in Tibet, and the other is hidden in Wuhan.

Generally, Gude Temple was founded by Longxi in the third year of the Guangxu reign (1877), and it has a history spanning over 140 years. Initially named Gude Thatched Cottage, it was subsequently expanded twice by the abbot Changhong between 1914 and 1919, and then renamed Gude Temple, meaning "to cherish the ancient in heart and redeem living beings with virtue". Gude Temple is unique Buddhist temple of Han-Chinese Buddhism that combines traditional Chinese culture with architectural styles of Ananda Temple in India and Myanmar and Pallava architecture in India. It is unparalleled across the world. Uncommon amidst Han-Chinese Buddhist temples, as it is regarded as "a remarkable sight in the Buddhist holy land" and "the most spectacular wonder among Han-Chinese Buddhist temples", this temple, thus, becomes still more conspicuous due to the modern skyscrapers all around, with both building types in direct contrast to each other.

Highlights of Gude Temple

Sightseeing and Worshiping

Gude Temple

Gude Temple encompasses the Yuantong Hall, the Heavenly King Hall, auxiliary halls, and the Four-faced Buddha statue. Although Gude Temple is not very large, the Buddha statues inside are tall, solemn, and truly awe-inspiring.

The Yuantong Hall is the core building of Gude Temple and is modeled after Ananda Temple in Myanmar. It is a typical temple with a perfect exotic style, featuring lavish and exquisite decorations, complete functions, and an exquisite environment. In Han-Buddhism, it is the only temple of its kind and one of just two examples of buildings of this style left in the world. And it has immense religious, architectural and cultural-historical value. In 2012, Gude Temple was listed among the top ten landscapes in Jiang'an District, Wuhan. It is a highly distinctive Zen-style architecture.

Praying for Love

People Go to Gude Temple to Pray and Worship

It is said that Gude Temple is the most efficacious place in Wuhan to pray for love. Many young couples also regard it as a holy place to express eternal love. Therefore, young people do not come to Gude Temple to pray for blessings during the Spring Festival. Instead, they come to pray and express their love during other holidays such as May Day or Valentine's Day.