Fading Temple in Guandu Old Town, Kunming
Overview of Fading Temple
Fading Temple (法定寺) is situated in the southeastern outskirts of Kunming, within the historic Guandu Old Town (官渡古镇). Built during the Dali Kingdom by the Gao family (高氏), it became an important center for the development of Tantric Buddhism in the region. The temple also served as a significant educational institution at the time. The area is lush with trees, giving it a serene atmosphere, which earned the site the poetic name “Luofeng Diecui” (螺峰叠翠), meaning “Layered Green Peaks.” It is one of the famous attractions in Guandu.
Although the temple is not large in scale, its architecture is notably tall. The main structure of Fading Temple is unique for its use of 45-degree wing-shaped dougong brackets, which are richly decorative. The front eaves are ornately adorned, with a double phoenix motif carved beneath the central eave, symbolizing the rising sun. The eave columns are topped with wooden carvings of qilin (麒麟), a mythical creature, and the ends of the roof beams are carved into lively phoenix shapes. These features retain the style of Song Dynasty architecture, making the temple a valuable example of ancient architectural artistry.
Key Details
- Name: Fading Temple (法定寺)
- Location: Guandu Old Town, southeastern outskirts of Kunming
- Architectural Style: Song Dynasty characteristics
- Main Attractions: “Luofeng Diecui” (螺峰叠翠) scenic view, ornate eave decorations, Song Dynasty-style dougong brackets
Temple’s Significance
In 2008, Fading Temple, along with three other temples in Kunming—Tuzhu Temple (土主寺), Miaozhan Temple (妙湛寺), and Guanyin Temple (观音寺)—signed an agreement with Shaolin Temple (少林寺). According to this agreement, Shaolin Temple would send a group of monks to manage these temples following Shaolin’s management principles, which emphasize culture, education, regional ties, charity, and the integration of Zen and martial arts. Abbot Shi Yongxin (释永信) of Shaolin Temple noted that this collaboration would bring spiritual and cultural enrichment to the local area, increase the temple’s prominence, and attract more visitors.
Important Individuals
- Abbot of Fading Temple: Shi Yongxin (释永信)
- Signatory on behalf of Guandu District: Liu Yuejin (刘跃进), the District Mayor of Guandu
By maintaining Shaolin’s management philosophy, Fading Temple and its counterparts have grown in both cultural and spiritual significance, drawing a larger following and further enriching Kunming’s religious landscape.
