Kaiyuan Monastery is located at Quanzhou City, Fujian Province. It was built in the second year of Cuigong, Tang Dynasty (AC 686). The main hall of the Monastery is called "The Great Hall of Purple Clouds" with 9 rooms in width, 6 rooms in depth and 20 odd meters in height.
On entering the Kaiyuan Monastery, the very sight is the gallant Precious Hall of the Great Hero. It has three characteristics: 1. There stand 5 huge Sakyamuni statues in a row inside the hall, symbolizing the brilliance of Sakyamuni illuminating east, west, north, south and middle; 2. There are 24 paintings of colorful" Flying Apsaras" on the ceiling, whose molding is different from that of the famous stone sculpture in Dunhuang Caves. The "Flying Apsaras " in the Kaiyuan Monastery have wings instead of ribbons; 3. There are 100 stone pillars in the hall which are in such great numbers that are rare indeed.
In the rear hall behind the Precious Hall of the Great Hero, there stands the statue of Visnu Bodhisattva on the highest stand in serene dignity, occupying a commanding position, unique in the world. Beneath Sakyamuni stands the statue of Avalokitesvara with the statues of 8 attendant worriers standing on left and right and altar of monkshood initiation in the front.
In between the front and rear halls of the Precious Hall of the Great Hero, there grow two tall and sturdy pipal trees with exuberant branches and leaves.
There is also a queer mulberry tree, which is more than 1300 years old, perhaps the most longevous tree of its kind in the world.
