The Pizhi Pagoda of the Lingyan Temple

There are three well-known Buddhist temples on Mountain Taishan, the Pervading Light Temple (the Puzhao Monastery) before the mountain, the Yuquan Temple behind the mountain, and the Lingyan Temple (the Divine Rock Temple) to the northwest of the highest peak.

The Lingyan Temple was established a long time ago. It was already very large in the Tang Dynasty. Tang Gaozong, an emperor of the Tang Dynasty, once stayed temporarily at this temple when he came to make a pilgrimage and bestow honorable titles on Mountain Taishan. There are many ancient buildings, cultural relics and historical sites in the temple. These include the Thousand-Buddha Hall, the Imperial Books Pavilion, the Five-Flower Hall, the Mahavira Hall, the Pizhi Pagoda (the Pratyeka Pagoda), the Memorial Grove and the Painted Buddha's Clay Sculptures inside the Thousand-Buddha Hall, which were painted Arhat Statues made in the Song Dynasty and praised as “The Most Famous Clay Sculptures throughout the World”.

The Pizhi Pagoda (the Pratyeka Pagoda) is to the west of the Thousand-Buddha Hall. It was set up in the year of Tian Bao, in the Tang Dynasty and rebuilt in the Song Dynasty. The pagoda base was made of stone, engraved with a picture of the underworld with relief sculptures of the nether world. It was made of bricks, 54 meters high, and is the highest pagoda of Mountain Taishan district.

Publishes at : 07-09-06 21:52

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