Da Ci'en Temple, the home of Big Wild Goose Pagoda, covers 32,314 square meters, one seventh of the original area, retains its grandeur.
In 648, to commemorate the dead virtuous queen Ci'en (Literally meaning Mercy and Kindness), the royalty gave an order to build a temple.
Along the central axis are arranged the Hall of Mahavira, Sermon Hall, Big Wild Goose Pagoda, and the Hall of Xuanzang Sanzang. In the Hall of Mahavira are three carved statues of Sakyamuni, and 18 arhats as well as Xuanzang. The Sermon Hall is where Buddhist disciples would listen to a sermon.
A bronze statue of Amitabha is dedicated and a Buddha statue is collected by Xuanzang as oblation. The Hall of Xuanzang Sanzang is north of Big Wild Goose Pagoda. In this hall are Xuanzang's relic and a bronze statue of a seated Xuanzang. The inner wall is chiseled with murals depicting this hierarch's story.
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