Chinese Buddhism culture is a splendid jewel in the traditional cultural treasure house of China.
Buddhism was spread into China from India during the two Han Dynasties. In the period of Chiwu in the Three Kingdoms times, Buddhism was spread to Suzhou (being called "Capital of Wu Kingdom" at the time). Buddhism has left profound cultural accumulation through one thousand and seven hundred odd years of inheriting and developing. It has become an important component of the Wu culture. The ten odd ancient monasteries preserved by now had respectively been the famous ritual places for various schools of the Chan Sect, the Pure-land School, the Vinaya School and the Tiantai Sect etc in history. The sutra collection, the musical instruments, the Buddhist statues, material objects and historical data left over through foreign intercommunion of the Buddhist monks, the works and treasured scrolls of calligraphy or paintings handed down by the eminent monks and great persons etc in each temple all displayed the veins of the sect and the beginning of the schools of the Buddhism in the middle Suzhou area and the origin and the source of the development of the Buddhist culture.
The museum has been divided into eight parts. With the help of the written explanation, they use material objectives, pictures and models to show the historical remains and the real style and feature of the Buddhism in Suzhou. It gives a helpful hand in enhancing and developing the excellent traditional culture of Chinese nationality.
Location: No.3, Chuanxin Street, Suzhou City.
Telephone: 0512-5230561.
Postcode: 215002.