Millenia Heritage of Lingyin Temple

#chinaattractions Lingyin Temple, also known as Yunlin Zen Temple, is located in Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province, with its back to the north Peak and facing Feilai Peak. It was founded in the first year of Xianhe and is one of the famous ancient temples of Chinese Buddhism. Historical background and cultural significance Lingyin Temple was founded by Monk Huili, a Buddhist monk. Huili believed that the mountain peaks here were beautiful and the aura was compelling, so he built a temple here and named it "Lingyin”. Lingyin Temple has undergone expansion and renovation many times in its history, especially during the periods of Emperor Wu of Liang in the Southern Dynasty, the Sixth year of the Tang Dynasty, the Five Dynasties of King Qian of Wuyue, and the Shunzhi Period of the Qing Dynasty. The scale of the temple continued to expand and the incense was vigorous. Lingyin Temple is not only one of the earliest famous temples in Hangzhou, but also one of the top ten ancient temples of Chinese Buddhism and Zen Buddhism. It is known as one of the “Five Mountains” of Jiangnan Zen Buddhism. Architectural style and main buildings The architectural style of Lingyin Temple is unique, combining various architectural elements such as Han, Tibetan, and Indian.The main buildings include the Heavenly King Hall, the Main Hall, the Pharmacist Hall, the Dharma Hall, and the Huayan Hall.With a height of 33.6 meters, the main hall is one of the best preserved single-story temple buildings with heavy eaves. The 19.69-meter-high statue of Shakyamuni Buddha is enshrined in the hall. In addition, Lingyin Temple also has five hundred Arhat Halls, Jigong Hall, Huayan Pavilion, Great Sorrow Building, Abbot Building and other buildings. The entire temple covers a vast area and has magnificent buildings. Tourist information and cultural value Lingyin Temple is not only an ideal destination in the hearts of Buddhist believers, but also a popular choice for cultural tourism.Visitors can enjoy the charm of ancient Chinese architecture and experience the breadth and depth of Buddhist culture here. Lingyin Scenic Area also includes attractions such as Feilaifeng, which attracts a large number of tourists and believers to visit. Lingyin Temple and its stone pagoda and sutras are listed as the seventh batch of national cultural relics protection units, which have important historical and cultural value.