2024 Cultural 'Summer' Journey (Sixteen): Millennium Green Lotus, Long-lasting Buddhist Charm—Qinglian Temple

Qinglian Temple is located halfway up the Xiashi Mountain, 17 kilometers southeast of Jincheng City. It was founded by the famous Northern Qi monk Master Huiyuan during the Tianbao period (550-559 AD) and was initially named 'Xiashi Temple'. In the sixth year of Tang Xiantong (807 AD), it was granted the name 'Qinglian Temple' by imperial decree. Qinglian Temple is divided into the upper and lower temples. The lower temple is the ancient Qinglian Temple, one of the earliest temples of the Maitreya Pure Land Sect of Buddhism in China, renowned as 'Literary Qinglian, Martial Shaolin'. The upper temple is also called 'Fuyan Zen Temple', a site of the Tiantai Sect of Buddhism. The temple houses Wei stele inscriptions, Tang sculptures, iron brush calligraphy, Song structures, and Ming and Qing murals and poetry. Among them, the six Tang dynasty colored sculptures are particularly exquisite and unique in the country. The sweet 'Rudou Spring', the ancient 'Ginkgo Couple', the 'Mother and Child Cypress' symbolizing deep maternal love, the 'Pen Throwing Platform' that embraces beauty, and the 'Kuan Yue Pavilion' where one can enjoy the scenic beauty of the world from Jue Mountain are all notable features. Our group of four visited the Arhat Hall. The security guard inside said, 'How many of you are there? A maximum of five people can enter at a time.' Upon entering the hall, sunlight happened to shine inside. The sixteen Arhat statues in the hall are from the Song dynasty, during the reign of Emperor Huizong of Song, Zhao Ji. During Emperor Huizong's period, the Song dynasty transitioned from prosperity to decline, facing the storms of the era and the instability of the empire. From the faces of the Arhats, one can glimpse the suffering of the times and see their profound introspection through their expressions. The Shakyamuni Hall in Qinglian Temple currently houses four Song dynasty sculptures: Shakyamuni Buddha in the center, flanked by two disciples (Ananda and Kasyapa) and two Bodhisattvas (Manjushri and Samantabhadra), with the statue of Kasyapa on the east side missing. The ancient Qinglian Temple also houses six Tang dynasty colored sculptures (originally seven, with one damaged), and the only Tang dynasty seated Buddha statue in China, characterized by the plump and graceful features typical of Tang sculptures. The vividness of these sculptures is beyond words. Only by being there, quietly observing, can one feel the compassionate gaze that transcends over a thousand years, remaining unchanged through time. A reminder: When visiting ancient sites in Shanxi, it is common to encounter closed doors, especially for non-popular ancient buildings. It is advisable to check in advance. Qinglian Temple and Yuhuang Temple currently require reservations due to the control on the number of people allowed in the halls.