Wuxi • Huishan Temple

Huishan Temple, also known as 'Huishan Temple,' is located in the Huishan Ancient Town Scenic Area (No. 1 Huishan Straight Street) in Liangxi District, Wuxi City, Jiangsu Province. Initially called 'Lishan Thatched Cottage,' it was first built during the Southern and Northern Dynasties. In the first year of Jingping in the Southern Song Dynasty (423 AD), it was converted into a Buddhist site and renamed 'Huashan Jing She.' In the third year of Datong in the Liang Dynasty (537 AD), 'Huashan Jing She' was newly constructed with the 'Datong Hall' and renamed 'Fayun Zen Temple.' During the Dazhong to Xiantong periods of the Tang Dynasty (847-874 AD), it was renamed 'Huishan Temple.' Huishan Temple is backed by Huishan Mountain and has an overall east-west layout, divided into central and northern routes. The central route mainly includes buildings such as the Hall of Heavenly Kings, Jinlian Bridge, Imperial Stele Pavilion, Datong Gate, and the Mahavira Hall. The northern route mainly includes buildings such as the Arhat Hall, Great Compassion Pavilion, Sutra Library, Dizang Hall, Wuguan Hall, and the Huishan Temple Library. Among them, the two Huishan Temple Sutra Pillars in front of the mountain gate were built in the third year of Qianfu in the Tang Dynasty (876 AD) and the third year of Xining in the Song Dynasty (1070 AD). Both are made of bluestone with a stacked structure, each having 19 layers. The Tang and Song pillars stand side by side, with tall bodies, magnificent shapes, exquisite carvings, and well-preserved conditions. They are well-preserved and ancient Buddhist stone carving art treasures in the Wuxi area. In 2013, the Huishan Temple Sutra Pillars were listed as a national key cultural relic protection unit. Huishan Temple