Lingguang Temple

CHINA, Guangdong, Meizhou

Lingguang means Temple of Spiritual Light, and is located at the foot of Yinnashan Mountain. During the reign of Emperor Yizong (859–873) of the Tang dynasty, a monk named Pan Liaoquan came here and built a hut. The place was later turned into a temple called Shengshou. In 1385 during the Ming dynasty, the temple was expanded and renamed Lingguang Temple. Repairs and expansions of the temple have taken place over the years. It is listed as a Provincial Cultural Heritage Site.
Facing west, the temple grounds cover 4.2 ha, while the buildings cover 4,629 sq m. Along the central axis from west to east the buildings include the Heavenly King Hall and Great Hero Hall. In the south there are the bell tower, sutra repository, Hall of Heavenly Beings, and the Ksitigarbha Hall, while in the north there are the drum tower, stele passageway, Arhat Hall, Great Compassion Pavilion, and the Sound of Thunder Hall.
The three-by-seven bay Great Hero Hall has a hip-and-gable roof at the top with an overhanging gable roof below. The combination of two different types of eaves makes the building seem even higher, and it is a unique design. The octagonal wooden ceiling inside the hall consists of bracket sets which are supported by beams laid out in a checkered formation. Each bracket set is two-tier and has two projecting bracket arms, which spiral upwards to form a dome. Due to its shape, it is sometimes called a “pineapple dome.” The Ming dynasty (1368–1644) craftsmanship is exceptional. The spiraling structure allows incense smoke to travel upwards and out of the building more quickly.
The couplets on the stone pillars and the wooden horizontal inscribed board are still in good condition and have both literary and artistic value.