Huayan Monastery in Datong

The Huayan (Glorious Dignity) Monastery, 华严寺 in Chinese, is in the southwestern corner of the city Datong, Shanxi Province, China. Built in1038 during the Liao Dynasty, it was seriously damaged by war and was rebuilt in 1140 during the Jin Dynasty. The Upper Hall or the Mahavira Hall has its walls fully covered with paintings. It is one of China's two largest Buddhist halls (the other one being in the Fengguo Monastery, Yixian County, Liaoning Province). The Lower Hall or the Bojia Jiaozang Hall (where the Buddhist sutras are kept) has 31 sculptures of the Liao Dynasty. Still intact, they are valuable examples of ancient Chinese clay sculpture-plump faces, elegant postures, magnificent dresses. Inside the hall there are 38 store-rooms for the sutras. In the center of the rear wall hangs an elegant pavilion.