Donglin Temple (Jiangxi)

Main hall of the Donglin Temple

The Donglin Temple (simplified Chinese: 东林寺; traditional Chinese: 東林寺; pinyin: Dōnglínsì; literally: "Eastern Forest Temple") is a Buddhist monastery approximately 20 kilometres (12 mi) from Jiujiang, Jiangxi Province, China. Built in 386 CE at the foot of Lushan by Hui-yuan, founder of the Pure Land Sect of Buddhism, it is well known for how long it has stood without collapsing.

The monastery reached its peak of influence during the Tang Dynasty (618–907 CE), but was severely damaged during the Taiping Rebellion and was almost destroyed during the Republican period (1912–1949) of Chinese history.

Unlike many tourist sites in China, visitors are not required to buy any tickets in this temple. On the contrary, tourists can have free vegetarian meals together with monks (at 6:00–6:30, 11:00–11:30, 17:00–17:30) after joining their religious nianfo exercises.

The current abbot of the temple, Master Da'an (大安法師), was a professor of Beijing University of International Business and Economics.

Various other places are named for the temple, including Donglin Academy 東林書院 and Tōrin-in 東林院.

Structures

Guest houses

Guest houses are provided free of charge for tourists for living there up to three days. Like monastic living, they are sex segregated and rooms have to be shared.

Big Buddha of Donglin

After decades long donation campaign, the temple built a 48m tall statue of Buddha Amitabha surrounded by a 80m tall flame sculpture .

References

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