Donglin Temple

Donglin Temple 📍Address: North of Sihe Village, Jiayu Township, Xingyang City ❤️Introduction: According to the *Xingyang Local Chronicles*, Donglin Temple was built around the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty and rebuilt in the third year of the Jin Dading era, boasting a history of over 1,800 years. It got its name because early monks performed Buddhist rituals in caves. It is one of Bodhidharma's "Three Forests of Tianzhong." Zhu Yuanzhang had connections with this temple in his youth, and bestowed imperial gifts upon it after becoming emperor. Donglin Temple. Donglin Temple is located in Donglin Village, Jiayu Town, Xingyang City, 18 km southwest of Zhengzhou City. It is named Donglin Temple because in its early days, many monks performed Buddhist rituals in caves. This is very similar to early Buddhist temples in India.[2] According to the *Xingyang Local Chronicles*, "Donglin Temple was first built at the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty (around 200 AD) and rebuilt in the third year of the Jin Dading era." Legend has it that after Bodhidharma came to the Central Plains, he built three forests (Donglin Temple, Shaolin Temple, and Zhulin Temple), known as the Three Forests of Tianzhong, which are the three famous Buddhist temples in the Central Plains. Among them, Donglin Temple was the earliest, built at the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, with a history of 1,800 years. It is collectively known as one of the four major temples in the Central Plains, along with Xiangguo Temple in Kaifeng, White Horse Temple in Luoyang, and Shaolin Temple in Dengfeng. It has a history of more than 1,800 years. Donglin Temple was built in the Han Dynasty and flourished in the Tang, Song, Yuan, and Ming Dynasties. The temple has three scenic spots: the White Jade Buddha, the Evening Bell of Donglin, and the Chu Gold Furnace, which are renowned far and wide. Prince Zhou Jing of the Ming Dynasty was buried behind the temple, so it was called the Royal Buddha Hall. After years of war, Donglin Temple began to decline in the late Qing Dynasty.