Treasures for Buddha: The Art of Offerings from Nanjing Dabao’en Temple

The legends surrounding the Dabao’en Temple are explored in this new 19- minute video, which presents archaeological findings on the most important imperial temple in Chinese history since the 15th century. Written and directed by Willow Weilan Hai, Director and Chief Curator of China Institute Gallery.

This 102-minute video features a special event on the enigmatic Dabao’en Temple, organized by China Institute Gallery on December 16, 2023. The temple, one of the medieval wonders of the world, was the subject of a video premiere “Revealing the Legendary Dabao’en Temple,” written and directed by Willow Weilan Hai, SVP, Director and Chief Curator, China Institute Gallery. Through the reconstructed narrative by Dr. Nancy Steinhardt, Professor of East Asian Art and Curator of Chinese Art, University of Pennsylvania, a lecture traced the beginnings of the Porcelain Tower of the Dabao’en Temple, also known as the Great Bao’en Monastery Pagoda, explaining why so little is known about its physical appearance and how it nevertheless has been famous for half a millennium.