Caotang Temple, Xi'an, Shaanxi
This is one of the 142 Key Temples.
Caotang Temple is far away from Xi'an's city center, about 30-35km to the southwest. The temple dates back to 401. It was originally a thatched-roofed building, which gave it its name: "Caotang" means "Straw Hall (or Hut)." Kumarajiva (Chinese 鳩摩羅什; 344-413), one of the "Four Great Translators" of Sanskrit into Chinese, once lived here, and oversaw a translation workshop employing over 3,000 monks on the grounds.
The temple's remoteness is a plus and a minus. On the plus side, it's situated in a relatively quiet farming area; on the other hand, it takes at least an hour and a half to reach. You won't need more than an hour or so to see the whole place.
Caotang Temple is far away from Xi'an's city center, about 30-35km to the southwest. The temple dates back to 401. It was originally a thatched-roofed building, which gave it its name: "Caotang" means "Straw Hall (or Hut)." Kumarajiva (Chinese 鳩摩羅什; 344-413), one of the "Four Great Translators" of Sanskrit into Chinese, once lived here, and oversaw a translation workshop employing over 3,000 monks on the grounds.
The temple's remoteness is a plus and a minus. On the plus side, it's situated in a relatively quiet farming area; on the other hand, it takes at least an hour and a half to reach. You won't need more than an hour or so to see the whole place.
NAME:
LOCATION:
A Suggested Itinerary:
Bus 921 runs near three special temples (2 on the list of 142, plus one "bonus"). I recommend leaving the city early; going to Jingye Temple (see directions there; it involves climbing a mountain); taking the bus again to near the end of the line and taking a car to Ximing Temple; then back to the stop listed above for Caotang. Drivers at Jingye Temple also offered to take me to Caotang Temple for 30rmb, not a bad price; for a hundred or so you could probably get them to detour to Ximing (a 15-minute visit) before dropping you at Caotang.
NOTABLE FEATURES:
VISITED:
REFERENCES:
- Caotang Si (草堂寺) "Straw Hut Temple"
LOCATION:
- Caotangying Cun (Village), Caotang Zhen (Town), Hu Xian (County), Xi'an, Shaanxi. Phone (029) 8758 9795
- 陕西省西安市户县草堂镇草堂营村
- Latitude: 34.014517, Longitude: 108.739232 (see MAPS below)
- From Xi'an Bus Station (just south of the train station), take bus 921 about 48 stops (1-1/2 to 2 hours) to Caotang Si Nanmen (草堂寺南口). From there, walk due north 1-2 kilometers; the temple will be on your left. (The advantage of this route is that it will also take you to Jingye Temple before Caotang Temple, and Ximing Temple past Caotang. See the suggested itinerary below.) You can also find buses going from Xi'an South Bus Station to Hu Xian (County) bus terminal; there is a direct bus from there to the front gate of the temple. While this sounds great, it is very time-consuming. Finally, on weekends I've heard there is a "Mountain Sightseeing Bus" (Huan Shen Bus 1); more information is available at the Tourism Center near the Drum Tower on Xi Da Jie (West Boulevard).
A Suggested Itinerary:
Bus 921 runs near three special temples (2 on the list of 142, plus one "bonus"). I recommend leaving the city early; going to Jingye Temple (see directions there; it involves climbing a mountain); taking the bus again to near the end of the line and taking a car to Ximing Temple; then back to the stop listed above for Caotang. Drivers at Jingye Temple also offered to take me to Caotang Temple for 30rmb, not a bad price; for a hundred or so you could probably get them to detour to Ximing (a 15-minute visit) before dropping you at Caotang.
NOTABLE FEATURES:
- The Unhung Bell. A legend says that a poor child was crying during a monk's collections for the bell; when the bell was cast and struck it sounded so mournful that it was decided to set it on the ground and never strike it again. The bell sits on the first floor of this bell tower; an active bell hangs on the second.
- Porticoes with "heroes," including Communist leaders
- Kumarajiva Stupa, made with eight kinds of jade and said to hold the remains of the great translator
- Kumarajiva Memorial Hall, commemorating his translation workshop
- Lotus Sutra Steles, donated by Nichiren Buddhists from Japan around 2005
- The "Misty Well." Under certain conditions, the well emits vapor (or did; there seems to have been some disruption). Legend says this happens when a snake lies on a certain stone halfway down the side of the well. More likely it is (or was) from geothermal activity.
- New Library (under construction)
VISITED:
- 10/15/2010 (Click the date to read about the visit)
REFERENCES:
- Official Site (Chinese)
- Wooden Fish Project (English)
- China Tour page (English)
- Travel China Guide page (English)
- Wikipedia article (Chinese)
- Baidu article (Chinese)
PHOTOS:
Hover over the picture and press "Play" to run a slide show, or choose a thumbnail to view a single picture.
Hover over the picture and press "Play" to run a slide show, or choose a thumbnail to view a single picture.
MAPS:
Print this JPEG to show to taxi drivers, bus personnel, or others who can help you find the temple.