|
Lingyin Temple
|
 Lingyin Temple,is one of the largest temple in China,located at the food of Lingyin Mountain,generally translated as "Temple of the Soul's Retreat". It was founded by an Indian monk named Huili in 326 AD origianlly during the Eastern Jin dynasty.Due to war,the temple has rebuilt more than 16 times during 1700 years.The present buildings are restorations of Qing dynasty.For its beautiful and noiseless environment, it was named Lingyin Temple. The hillside to the south of the Lingyin temple is also famous for a site of old Buddhist caves and rock carvings. Many of these date back to the time when the temple was first founded and a great many were carved during the blossoming of Buddhism during the Tang dynasty. Although some damage inflicted by red guards during the Cultural Revolution, because of the protection of Premier Zhou Enlai, the temple escaped from a large scale of the wholesale destruction that other temples in China suffered . The temple is thriving today, although most of the thousands of visitors who come to for sightseeing and not for religious reasons. After entering the temple,the front hall and former entrance is the Hall of Heavenly Kings(tianwangdian).This hall is a huge double-eaved building that inscribed with "cloud forest Buddhist temple" by Emperor Kangxi,who was inspired on one occasion by the sight of the temple in the mist and trees, was hung above the door, producing a sacred atmosphere here.The main Buddha in the hall is Milefo,laughing Buddha,who can "endure eberything unedurable in the world and laugh at every laughable person in the world." The main hall of Lingyin Temple is Daxiongbaodian Hall.It is 5 rooms deep and 7 rooms wide.There are also huge images of the 18 Arhats, and the back of the hall has the traditional depiction of Guanyin and the 500 Arhats at Vulture Peak. |
|
|
