Dinglin Temple

CHINA, Shanxi, Jincheng

Dinglin means Forest of Calmness. The construction date is unknown but, according to a historical record, it was already in existence by the Later Tang dynasty (923–936). It has been rebuilt and repaired on a number of occasions. It was listed as a National Cultural Heritage Site in 2001.
The temple faces south and was built to blend in with its surroundings. It occupies around 8,000 sq m. Along the central axis there are the Avalokitesvara Hall, Sound of Thunder Hall, two caves named Zhijuan and Menjin, and the Hall of the Seven Buddhas. On either side there are various covered walkways, pavilions, and side courtyards. Apart from the Sound of Thunder Hall that was built during the Yuan dynasty (1271–1368), all other buildings were constructed during the Ming (1368–1644) or Qing (1644–1911) dynasties.
The three-by-three bay Sound of Thunder Hall has a single-eave hip-and-gable roof covered in cylindrical tiles and glazed ridge decorations in the shape of animals. A platform and two sutra pillars are located in front of the building. Both its entrance and back are marked by a pair of wooden doors while the side bays are occupied by vertical bar windows. The eaves are supported by two-tier bracket sets. Inside, the roof frame is exposed.
The two octagonal sutra pillars are similar in design. The west sutra pillar was constructed in 977 during the Northern Song dynasty and is carved with the Sutra on the Ascent of Maitreya, while the east sutra pillar was built in 985 and is engraved with the Usnisavijaya Dharani Sutra. Both sutra pillars are constructed from limestone and are 4 m high. Their lower section features a lotus base. The concave section of the Sumeru base is decorated with carvings of resting lions. The spire consists of a canopy, a lotus base, upright lotus, and jewels.