Daming Temple

CHINA, Jiangsu, Yangzhou

It was built during the Daming reign years (457–464) of the Southern Dynasties period and has undergone various name changes. The temple was also known as Qiling (Soul Resting) Temple after the pagoda of that name was built there in 601 during the Sui dynasty. However, the name fell out of use after the pagoda was destroyed in 843. Master Jianzhen taught the vinaya at the temple during the Tang dynasty (618–907). It was here that he received an invitation to travel to Japan to spread the vinaya. It became one of the Eight Major Temples in Yangzhou during the Qing dynasty (1644–1911). It was destroyed by war during the rule of Emperor Xianfeng (reigned 1851–1861) and was rebuilt during the rule of Emperor Tongzhi (reigned 1862–1874). It was listed as a National Cultural Heritage Site in 2006.
The compound occupies 8.4 ha with the buildings taking up 7,000 sq m. Along the central axis there are the gateway, Heavenly King Hall, and the Great Hero Hall. Flat Hill Hall on the west side of the temple was built by Ouyang Xiu, a philosopher during the Northern Song dynasty (960–1127). Also on the west side there are the Valley Grove Hall and West Garden built by scholar Su Shi of the Song dynasty (960–1279). On the east side there are the Pingyuan Building, Jianzhen Memorial Hall, and the East Garden. In addition, there is the Jianzhen Library whose construction was completed in 2008.
The gateway has three bays. The three-bay wide Great Hero Hall has a double-eave hip-and-gable roof. It houses statues of Sakyamuni Buddha, Medicine Buddha, and Amitabha Buddha. Behind the altar there is a relief depicting Avalokitesvara on an island.
The Jianzhen Memorial Hall was designed by Liang Sicheng and completed in 1973. It is built in the form of a Tang-style courtyard. The five-bay wide main hall has a single-eave hip roof and resembles the Golden Hall of Toshodaji Temple in Japan. A dry-lacquer statue of Master Jianzhen is enshrined within the building. The Qiling Pagoda was rebuilt in 1993.
The Jianzhen Library is located immediately behind the Jianzhen Memorial Hall. It was founded by Master Hsing Yun, founder of Fo Guang Shan Monastery in Taiwan. The three-story library has a hip roof and there are subsidiary buildings lining the courtyard. This layout is a common feature of Tang dynasty architecture.