Walking in Suzhou | Suzhou Lingyan Mountain Temple | 苏州灵岩山寺 скачать в хорошем качестве

Walking in Suzhou | Suzhou Lingyan Mountain Temple | 苏州灵岩山寺

Lingyan Mountain Temple (灵岩山寺) Nestled atop the 182-meter-high Lingyan Mountain in Suzhou's Gusu District, Lingyan Mountain Temple is a renowned Buddhist sanctuary with over 1,600 years of history. Originally established during the Eastern Jin Dynasty (317-420 CE) as a private villa, it was later converted into a Buddhist temple by monk Zhi Ji during the Liang Dynasty (502-557 CE). The temple gained prominence as one of China's four great Buddhist monasteries during the Tang Dynasty (618-907 CE) and underwent major reconstruction in the 1930s under Master Yin Guang (印光大师), a key figure in modern Chinese Pure Land Buddhism. Its architecture reflects classic Jiangnan-style temple design, featuring layered courtyards, soaring eaves, and intricate wood carvings. Key structures include: Heavenly King Hall (天王殿) with four majestic guardian statues Mahavira Hall (大雄宝殿) housing a golden Sakyamuni Buddha Lingyan Pagoda (多宝佛塔), a 7-story octagonal pagoda offering panoramic views As a sacred site for Pure Land Buddhism (净土宗), the temple maintains strict monastic disciplines and hosts daily chanting rituals. Pilgrims particularly revere its thousand-year-old "Lingyan Tea" tradition and the "Guanyin Pond" believed to hold healing waters. Surrounded by ancient pines, peculiar rock formations, and tea plantations, the temple harmoniously blends spiritual serenity with natural beauty. Its stone paths and inscriptions left by literati like Emperor Qianlong add historical depth. Now both a national key Buddhist temple and a popular cultural attraction, Lingyan Mountain Temple remains a living testament to Chinese Buddhist heritage, offering visitors spiritual solace amidst Suzhou's classical landscapes. The temple's combination of religious significance, architectural grandeur, and mountain scenery makes it a unique destination where history whispers through every moss-covered stair and temple bell resonance.