Famous temples, palaces, and churches in China

Author: Yu Guiyuan | Chief Editor/Country: Mainland China
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2005-03-01
Features: The ancient temple of Luoyang White Horse Temple in China is said to have originated from Emperor Ming of the Eastern Han Dynasty, who dreamed of a towering golden deity coming from the West. The next day, he summoned his ministers for discussion. Some believed the golden deity was the Buddha from the West. Impressed, Emperor Ming sent envoys to the Western Regions to seek the Buddha. These envoys encountered two eminent Indian monks, Kaishimoteng and Zifalan, in Dayuzhi, and brought them back to Luoyang along with Buddhist scriptures and images on a white horse. In the following year (68 AD), the government constructed a temple, naming it White Horse Temple. The temple is known as the "most ancient temple in China." It holds an irreplaceable historical position in the Chinese Buddhist tradition.
Page 5: Famous Temples in Jiangnan – Lingyin Temple and Jinshan Temple
Lingyin Temple is located in the northwest of Beifeng and Feilai Peak, near West Lake in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, also known as Yunlin Zen Temple. In the first year of Xianghe during the Eastern Jin Dynasty (326 AD), the Indian monk Huili arrived in Hangzhou and was struck by the magnificent peaks, lush mountains, and gurgling streams, recognizing it as the "land where immortals hide." He built a temple here, naming it "Lingyin Temple." During the Five Dynasties period, Lingyin Temple reached its peak. Wu-Yue King Qian Da ordered the eminent monk Wang Yanshou to oversee its expansion, resulting in the construction of nine pavilions, 18 halls, 72 halls, and over 1,200 rooms, with the number of monks increasing to over 3,000, making it one of the most famous temples in Jiangnan. Legend has it that the monk Jigong from the Southern Song Dynasty was ordained here.
Afterward, Lingyin Temple experienced periods of prosperity and decline, gradually shrinking in size. The current temple was rebuilt in the mid-Qing Dynasty. Major renovations in 1956 and 1970 have largely restored its original appearance. The main buildings now include the Tianwang Hall and the Daxiongbu Hall. The Tianwang Hall hangs an inscribed plaque "Yunlin Zen Temple" bestowed by Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty. On the front of the hall stands a seated statue of Maitreya Buddha, symbolizing peace. The hall is adorned with a couplet:
"If mountains should fly again, sit by the gate and wait. As springs warm up, smile and welcome."
This couplet cleverly plays on the words "fly" () and "cold" () in relation to Feilai Peak and Cold Spring, offering a witty and unique perspective.
The Daxiongbu Hall is located behind the Tianwang Hall, standing at 33.6 meters tall and being one of China's most renowned single-story, three-eaved structures. At its center, a 9.1-meter tall golden-clad statue of Sakyamuni Buddha is enshrined. Behind the screen wall, a sculpture depicts "Sangha's Fifty-Three Visits to the Sea Island," symbolizing the Pure Land.
Lingyin Temple was later listed as one of the top ten Zen temples in China.
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