Sutra Hall

Liao, 1038
Huayan Si, Datong

Huayan Temple, as we see it today, dates from the Liao and Jin dynasties (11th and 12th centuries) and later, although it may have been founded as early as Tang or even Northern Wei. The temple is built on two levels. The lower level houses the Sutra Hall and Datong City Museum, while the Main Hall is on the upper level. Huayan Buddhism is based on the Flower Garden Sutra and was influential at Baodingshan.

The Sutra Hall (Bojia Jiao Zang Dian) is the temple's library. It houses 38 sutra cabinets that are constructed like miniature buildings of the period; there are also three notable Liao sculptural groups, with Shakyamuni, Maitreya, Amitabha, and Bodhisattvas on the altar. The building is five bays wide, with a hip-gable roof.