Xiyuan Temple
Xiyuan Temple (Chinese: 西园寺; literally: "Western Garden Temple") is a large, mainly Vinaya（Ritsu, Ordination Platform） Buddhist temple beside the old town of Suzhou, China. It is formally titled the Western Garden Vinaya Column School of Ritsu Buddhism(Chinese: 西园戒幢律寺) and is located just to the west of Lingering Garden(used name Eastern Garden).
History
The Temple was founded in Yuan Dynasty, was ruined and then became part of a large classical garden, Xiyuan(Chinese: 西园; literally: "Western Garden"). The garden belonged to a Senior Government Official, the Core Minister, during the Ming Dynasty. When the official passed, his son donated the garden to the monastery. Unfortunately, most of the buildings were demolished during the civil war between the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom and Ta Tsing Empire periods in 1860. The monks rebuilt the Temple immediately after the war.
The temple is known for its statues, Arhat Hall and Free Life Pond, where 2 famous long-life Asian Giant Softshell Turtles lived. One turtle died in 2007 at the age of 400, and the other has disappeared.
Features
- Screen Wall
- Blessing and Virtue Bridge
- Wisdom Bridge
- Bestowed Memorial Archway
- The Gate House
- Bell Tower
- Drum Tower
- Hall of Heavenly Kings
- Sakyamuni Valuable Palace
- Avalokitesvara Hall
- Five Hundred Arhats Hall
- West Garden Mid-Lake Pavilion
- 400-year-old Asian Giant Softshell Turtle Denkmal
- Buddhism - Buddha Dharma - Monk Tower
- Buddhist Restaurant
References
LI Shang-quan. Suzhou Western Garden Buddhist Culture Research[J]. Journal of Nanjing Xiaozhuang University. No.1 Jan. 2007.
External links
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