Nanshan Temple (Zhangzhou)
Encyclopedia
Nanshan Temple is a Buddhist temple located in the foothills of Mount Danxia (丹霞山) to the south of Zhangzhou
City, Fujian Province, People's Republic of China. It is one of the most important Chinese Buddhism temples on the Chinese mainland.
during his Kaiyuan (开元) era
and completed in 736 CE. In 968 CE during the reign of Emperor Taizu of Song
it was repaired by the provincial governor Chen Wen (陈文) and renamed Chongfu Temple (崇福寺). Later on during the Ming Dynasty
, its name changed once more to the current "Nanshan Temple".
(天王殿), the Mahavira Hall
(大雄宝殿) and a
the Monasterial Library for the storage of sacred Buddhist scriptures
. Within this library there is a large stone Buddha
as well as a white jade one that was brought from Myanmar
during the Qing Dynasty
(1644–1911), a large clock and a Ming Dynasty
(1368–1644) Avatamsaka Sutra
. Together with a sutra written on palm leaves by the Qing Guangxu Emperor
, these items are known as the "Five Treasures of Nanshan" (南山寺五宝).
Zhangzhou
Zhangzhou is a prefecture-level city in southern Fujian province, People's Republic of China. Located on the banks of the Jiulong River , Zhangzhou borders the cities of Xiamen and Quanzhou to the northeast, Longyan City to the northwest and the province of Guangdong to the southwest.Zhangzhou...
City, Fujian Province, People's Republic of China. It is one of the most important Chinese Buddhism temples on the Chinese mainland.
History
Originally known as the Baoqu Institute (报劬院), the temple was built during the reign of Emperor Xuanzong of TangEmperor Xuanzong of Tang
Emperor Xuanzong of Tang , also commonly known as Emperor Ming of Tang , personal name Li Longji , known as Wu Longji from 690 to 705, was the seventh emperor of the Tang dynasty in China, reigning from 712 to 756. His reign of 43 years was the longest during the Tang Dynasty...
during his Kaiyuan (开元) era
Chinese era name
A Chinese era name is the regnal year, reign period, or regnal title used when traditionally numbering years in an emperor's reign and naming certain Chinese rulers . Some emperors have several era names, one after another, where each beginning of a new era resets the numbering of the year back...
and completed in 736 CE. In 968 CE during the reign of Emperor Taizu of Song
Emperor Taizu of Song
Emperor Tàizǔ , born Zhao Kuangyin , was the founder of the Song Dynasty of China, reigning from 960 to 976.-Ancestry and early life:...
it was repaired by the provincial governor Chen Wen (陈文) and renamed Chongfu Temple (崇福寺). Later on during the Ming Dynasty
Ming Dynasty
The Ming Dynasty, also Empire of the Great Ming, was the ruling dynasty of China from 1368 to 1644, following the collapse of the Mongol-led Yuan Dynasty. The Ming, "one of the greatest eras of orderly government and social stability in human history", was the last dynasty in China ruled by ethnic...
, its name changed once more to the current "Nanshan Temple".
Description
Nanshan Temple is built in the typical style with the central axis divided into the Hall of the Four Heavenly KingsFour Heavenly Kings
In the Buddhist faith, the Four Heavenly Kings are four gods, each of whom watches over one cardinal direction of the world.The Kings are collectively named as follows:...
(天王殿), the Mahavira Hall
Mahavira Hall
A Mahavira Hall or Hall of Mahavira （大雄寶殿), meaning "Hall of the Great Hero" , is the main building of a traditional Chinese Buddhist temple complex, where the historical Buddha and other buddhas and bodhisattvas are enshrined...
(大雄宝殿) and a
the Monasterial Library for the storage of sacred Buddhist scriptures
Sutra
Sūtra is an aphorism or a collection of such aphorisms in the form of a manual. Literally it means a thread or line that holds things together and is derived from the verbal root siv-, meaning to sew , as does the medical term...
. Within this library there is a large stone Buddha
Buddha
In Buddhism, buddhahood is the state of perfect enlightenment attained by a buddha .In Buddhism, the term buddha usually refers to one who has become enlightened...
as well as a white jade one that was brought from Myanmar
Myanmar
Burma , officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar , is a country in Southeast Asia. Burma is bordered by China on the northeast, Laos on the east, Thailand on the southeast, Bangladesh on the west, India on the northwest, the Bay of Bengal to the southwest, and the Andaman Sea on the south....
during the Qing Dynasty
Qing Dynasty
The Qing Dynasty was the last dynasty of China, ruling from 1644 to 1912 with a brief, abortive restoration in 1917. It was preceded by the Ming Dynasty and followed by the Republic of China....
(1644–1911), a large clock and a Ming Dynasty
Ming Dynasty
The Ming Dynasty, also Empire of the Great Ming, was the ruling dynasty of China from 1368 to 1644, following the collapse of the Mongol-led Yuan Dynasty. The Ming, "one of the greatest eras of orderly government and social stability in human history", was the last dynasty in China ruled by ethnic...
(1368–1644) Avatamsaka Sutra
Avatamsaka Sutra
The is one of the most influential Mahayana sutras of East Asian Buddhism. The title is rendered in English as Flower Garland Sutra, Flower Adornment Sutra, or Flower Ornament Scripture....
. Together with a sutra written on palm leaves by the Qing Guangxu Emperor
Guangxu Emperor
The Guangxu Emperor , born Zaitian of the Aisin-Gioro clan, was the eleventh emperor of the Manchurian Qing Dynasty, and the ninth Qing emperor to rule over China. His reign lasted from 1875 to 1908, but in practice he ruled, under Empress Dowager Cixi's influence, only from 1889 to 1898...
, these items are known as the "Five Treasures of Nanshan" (南山寺五宝).