The Hall of Great Enlightenment (Dache Hall) - 大徹堂

The Hall of Great Enlightenment (Dache Hall) – The Spiritual Sanctuary of Shaolin’s Millennial Discipline

In the northeast corner of Shaolin Temple’s main compound stands a solemn and majestic structure—the Hall of Great Enlightenment, also known as Shaolin’s Ordination Platform. This is not only a sacred site for monastic ordinations but also a spiritual sanctuary where countless practitioners seek self-reflection and awakening.

The Ordination Platform: A Buddhist "Rite of Passage"

The Ordination Platform is the ceremonial heart of the Three Platforms of Precepts (Sramanera, Bhikkhu, and Bodhisattva Precepts). In ancient times, only monks who passed rigorous examinations in monastic discipline were deemed worthy to receive their precepts here, formally becoming ordained disciples of Buddhism. This tradition dates back to the Tang Dynasty, and as the ancestral home of Chan (Zen) Buddhism, Shaolin Temple has always upheld its precepts with exceptional strictness.

In 2004, to revive this thousand-year-old tradition, Shaolin Temple began reconstructing the Ordination Platform. Within just one year, an imposing Qing-style structure emerged—featuring double-tiered eaves, gray-tiled roofs, and a towering bronze pinnacle. Spanning 2,200 square meters, the upper level serves as the ordination platform, while the lower level functions as a meditation hall, seamlessly blending ancient customs with modern spiritual needs.

Chan Qi (Seven-Day Meditation Retreat): Seven Days in Silence, One Moment of Awakening

Since 2005, Venerable Abbot Shi Yongxin has reinstituted the practice of "Chan Qi" (Seven-Day Meditation Retreat) in this hall. Every winter, monastics gather here for an intensive 49-day meditation (seven cycles of seven days each). During this period, practitioners observe silence, sever external distractions, and alternate between seated and walking meditation, striving to "realize one’s true nature."

The tradition of Chan Qi traces back to Bodhidharma, the First Patriarch of Zen. Legend holds that he meditated facing a cave wall on Shaolin’s rear mountain for nine years before attaining enlightenment. Today’s Chan Qi retreats embody this same ascetic spirit. Many participants recall feeling a profound resonance with the ancient masters within the hall’s sacred atmosphere—"Let go of a single thought, and all burdens vanish."

Architectural Wisdom: Every Brick and Tile Embodies Zen

The Hall of Great Enlightenment’s design conceals deeper meanings:

• Double-Eaved Structure: Symbolizes the Buddhist wisdom of "transcending while engaging with the world"—being in the world yet above it.

• Bronze Pinnacle: Represents the "Threefold Training" (Precepts, Meditation, Wisdom)—only through pure discipline can one attain stillness and insight.

• Enclosed Courtyard: Reflects the "Four Noble Truths" (Suffering, Origin, Cessation, Path), guiding practitioners toward life’s ultimate truths.

Epilogue: Discipline is the Foundation of Zen

Bodhidharma once said: "Cease all external entanglements, quiet the restless mind, and let the heart stand like an unshaken wall—only then can one enter the Way." The Hall of Great Enlightenment stands as a reminder to every practitioner: Discipline is not a shackle but the cornerstone of liberation. Whether through the solemnity of ordination or the rigor of Chan Qi, this hall remains the spiritual core of Shaolin’s legacy.

If you ever have the privilege of stepping into the Hall of Great Enlightenment, pause for a moment—perhaps the temple bell’s millennial chime is tolling the dawn of your own awakening.