Hangzhou Lingyin Temple: A Thousand-Year-Old Temple, Buddhist Kingdom of the Southeast
Overview
Lingyin Temple, also known as Yunlin Chan Temple, is located at No. 1 Fayun Lane, Lingyin Road, Xihu District, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province. It is backed by Beigao Peak and faces Feilai Feng, covering an area of about 87,000 square meters. As one of the top ten ancient temples of Chinese Zen Buddhism, Lingyin Temple has a history of over 1,600 years since its founding in the Eastern Jin Dynasty, making it one of the oldest temples in Hangzhou. The temple is built along the mountain with a rigorous central axis layout. The main buildings include the Hall of Heavenly Kings, the Grand Hall of Great Sage, the Hall of Medicine Buddha, the Hall of Direct Pointing (Dharma Hall), and the Avatamsaka Hall, all grand in scale. The temple houses a large collection of Buddhist relics, including Tang Dynasty dharani pillars, Song Dynasty wood carvings, and Yuan Dynasty bronze bells. The Feilai Feng grottoes contain over 470 stone carvings from the Five Dynasties to the Yuan Dynasty, making it one of the largest grotto complexes in southeastern China. Lingyin Temple is not only a pilgrimage site for Buddhists but also an excellent place for visitors to experience the Zen spirit and historical culture of Jiangnan.
