There are many temples in the land of Shenzhou, and it is inevitable that there will be many temples with the same name. For example, Nanchan Temple, there is a Nanchan Temple on the South Mountain of Xining, side by side with the Dharma Temple; The Nanchan Temple on Wutai Mountain is famous at home and abroad, because the big Buddha hall in the temple is a Tang Dynasty building; Wuxi also has a Nanchan Temple, located in the city center, surrounded by a bustling commercial area, in 2012 Nanchan Temple and its surrounding commercial area and the ancient canal was rated as a national AAAA tourist attraction - Nanchan Temple Scenic Area. This Nanzen temple is full of incense during the day and bright lights at night, which makes people yearn for it.
Nanzenji Temple is a temple first, followed by a pagoda. The temple was founded in the first year of the Taiqing dynasty of Southern Liang (547 AD), and was originally named Huguo Temple; During the Yongxi period of the Northern Song Dynasty (984-988 AD), a monk came with a bowl, entered the Huguo Temple, disappeared, and later found the monk's shadow on the wall of the temple. During the Tiansheng period of the Northern Song Dynasty (1023-1032 AD), Song Renzong gave the temple the name "Fusheng Zen Monastery", because Song Renzong gave another temple in Wuxi City the name "Shousheng Zen Monastery", and Fusheng Zen Monastery is located in the south, so the common people commonly call it "Nanchan Temple", from which the name of the temple is derived. The name of the pagoda "Miaoguang Pagoda" in the temple was given by Emperor Huizong of Song.
Nanchan Temple is located at No. 32, Xiangyang Road, Liangxi District, Wuxi City, Jiangsu Province, Nanchan Temple Scenic Area, located in the south corner of Wuxi Old City, beside the ancient canal. The temple is free of charge, and the transportation is convenient, and it can be reached by bus. Nanchan Temple covers an area of about 7,000 square meters, divided into east and west courtyards, the west courtyard is the Buddha hall area, mainly including the Heavenly King Hall, Daxiong Treasure Hall, Tibetan scripture pavilion and other buildings; The east courtyard is the entrance gate to the temple, and there are buildings such as Myoko Pagoda inside.
The stone archway of Nanchan Temple is four pillars, three doors and five floors, each stone pillar has a drum stone in front of it, and a stone lion in front of the middle gate pillar, which is mighty and majestic, and the lion's mouth is wide open. The door pillar is engraved with a joint link, and the top of the middle gate has a plaque of "Nanchan Temple", which is very eye-catching with gold characters on a red background, and the cornice angle on the upper floor is high, and the ridge end is decorated with a beast. There is also a plaque behind the archway, which reads "The Most Victorious Jungle in Jiangnan", which shows that Nanchan Temple is also a famous ancient temple.
Walk through the torii and walk along the road past the Tennoden Temple to the entrance of the temple.
Greeting is the Miaoguang Tower, tall and tall, beautiful and exquisite; The tower is 43 meters high, seven levels and eight sides, each floor of the tower eaves is exquisite, the eaves angle is high, wind chimes are hung on it, the breeze blows, and the bell is pleasant; The base of the tower is 1.3 meters high, there is a ring corridor, worship along the ring corridor, and circle the tower three times clockwise, solemn and special, and the merit is immeasurable. Miaoguang Pagoda is one of the "Eight Scenic Spots of Wuxi", majestic during the day and beautiful at night.
On the left side of the Miaoguang Pagoda, there are two bronze statues, one is a fat monk in a cassock, sitting on a stone bench, facing a rich man. It is said that during the Jiajing period, there was a fat monk in Nanchan Temple, with a strange skill, who set up an altar for close friends to eliminate disasters, and his friends were murderous many times, so the story of the fat monk was widely spread.
The west courtyard of Nanchan Temple is the Buddha Hall area, the front is the Heavenly King Hall, close to the road, heavy eaves rest on the top of the mountain, cornices and angles, Dewa yellow wall big red door, in front of the middle gate there are two stone lions, thick and cute. The plaque of "Nanzenji Temple" hangs under a heavy roof. The Heavenly King's Hall in the night is beautiful, like a heavenly palace, full of light and dazzling.
The Buddha shrine in the Heavenly King's Hall is magnificent, with eight sides exquisite, standing on the stone Meru Platform, with golden dragons coiled on the pillars of the niches, and gold carvings on the Buddha niches, rich in ancient charm. The front side enshrines Maitreya Buddha, and the statue of the cloth bag monk is generous, but how much right and wrong are in the world, full of joy and laughter to open countless clouds of sorrow in ancient and modern times.
The two compartments of the Heavenly King Hall are dedicated to the four heavenly kings, and the statues are mighty and fierce and a little cute, and the expression is a bit cartoonish. The four heavenly kings all raised one leg, sat on the throne, dressed in armor, wearing a crown on their heads, holding magic weapons, the wind and rain were smooth and the territory was forever protected, and the Guotai and the people were safe and guarded the temple.
Behind the Heavenly King Hall is the Dharma Protector Hall, which houses Wei Tao, a golden-armored general, a compassionate face under a hood, holding a demonic vajra pestle standing on the ground, Wei Tao is the protector of Buddha, the guardian of Buddhism, and the protector of the peace of the monks in the monastery. The treasure pestle gives birth to the wind and the demons, and the treasure of mercy protects the Dharma world.
Opposite Wei Lian Bodhisattva is the Daxiong Treasure Hall, the majestic and magnificent hall stands on a high stone platform, with heavy eaves resting on the top of the mountain, and the high cornice angle points to the sky, with a beautiful arc and a beautiful spirit; The yellow wall of Dewa with the dark red doors and windows looks rich and solemn, with a fleur-de-lis at both ends of the ridge and a tail curled into flowers; Under the first eaves hang red plaques with gold characters, the four characters "Daxiong Treasure Hall" are written on it, three giant plaques are hung under the second eaves, and there are also yang lian on the pillars, which set off the ancient charm of the temple and shine with Buddha light.
The lamps in front of the hall are flickering, and the cigarette smoke is full of smoke, representing many wishes, solace of the soul, wishing that good dreams come true, and all wishes are wished. The treasure ding in front of the temple symbolizes good luck, and good luck when watching and worshiping.
The beam frame in the Daxiong treasure hall is relatively simplified, and the beams and columns are directly joined by tenon and tenon joint, which is transparent, which has the architectural characteristics of Jiangnan temples in the Ming and Qing dynasties; The banner is floating, the prayer building is hanging high, and in the center of the Meru platform sits Shakyamuni Buddha, with his hands applying the fearless seal, which can make all sentient beings feel at ease and fearless, and the Buddha has a compassionate face and a slight smile; On the left side of the Buddha is the Mahakaye, with his hands knotted, his spirit and radiance; On the right is Ananda, who has heard many things, with his hands folded, humble and courteous, and infinite wisdom between his eyebrows.
The two compartments of the temple are dedicated to eighteen arhats, the Buddha niche hangs high, and the space below is open, which is somewhat similar to the Hundred Years Palace in Jiuhua Mountain. The eighteen arhats are: Sitting Deer Arhat, Joyful Arhat, Bowl Arhat, Tota Arhat, Sitting Arhat, Crossing the River Arhat, Riding Elephant Arhat, Laughing Lion Arhat, Happy Arhat, Detective Arhat, Contemplative Arhat, Ear-Picking Arhat, Budai Arhat, Basho Arhat, Long-eyebrow Arhat, Gatekeeper Arhat, Dragon Descent Arhat, Fuhu Arhat.
At the end of the eighteen arhats on both sides, there are Puxian Bodhisattva and Manjushri Bodhisattva Golden Body Dharma, Manjushri Bodhisattva holding a magic weapon, sitting half-kneeling on the body of a green lion, wearing a heavenly crown on his head, dressed in a gown, compassion and solemnity, boundless wisdom; Puxian Bodhisattva holds a lotus branch and sits half-kneeling on a six-toothed white elephant, Puxian Bodhisattva is the king of wishes, and the towering Mount Emei is the ashram of the bodhisattva, and it still takes some physical strength and perseverance to climb to the top on foot to worship Puxian in all directions.
Behind the two disciples of one Buddha is the island Guanyin, in the center Guanyin Bodhisattva stepping on the head of a fish, with a flowing posture, a compassionate expression, a clean bottle in his hand sprinkled with nectar, cleansing the mortal heart of all sentient beings who want and covet, Buddha is the heart, cultivating the Buddha is cultivating the mind, good and evil are created by the heart, and obsession has a heart. The Bodhisattva is also flanked by two attendants, the Boy of Good Fortune and the Dragon Girl. Behind the large wall sculpture of the good fortune boy 53 ginseng, the boy humbly seeks education, tirelessly visits, the picture of visiting the 53 and 5 good knowledge is lifelike, making people benefit a lot, humbly seeking education is king.
There is also the God of Wealth Hall on the right side of the Daxiong Treasure Hall, and when you enter, you can see Guan Yu holding the Blue Dragon Moon Knife, majestic; The golden splendor in the Temple of Wealth is full of gold, and it is difficult not to get rich; The middle is dedicated to the five gods of wealth, respectively, the east road god of wealth, Bigan, which is worshipped as the god of wealth and wealth; Guan Gong, the god of wealth in the west road, is worshipped as the god of martial wealth; The God of Wealth on the South Road Chai Wang Ye, the God of Wealth on the North Road Zhao Gongming, and the God of Wealth on the Middle Road Wang Hai.
In front of the God of Wealth Hall, there is also the Jizo Hall, which is dedicated to the Bodhisattva of Jizo, and in the red and gold-encrusted Buddha niche, the bodhisattva sits on the throne, his expression is solemn, the law is special, hell is not empty and vows cannot become a Buddha, all sentient beings cross the square Bodhi, the wish power of the Bodhisattva of Jizo is grand, and the wall behind it is plastered with supernatural tablets.
Opposite the Jizo Hall is the Guanyin Hall, which houses the Guanyin Bodhisattva who has great compassion and great compassion, sitting on a lotus throne, wearing a crown of five Buddhas, wearing a treasure robe, and holding a meditation seal on his hands, and the two sides of the Bodhisattva's Buddha niche are plastered with prayer tablets, and the wishes of all sentient beings are willing to express to Guanyin Bodhisattva, and the wonderful image is harmonious and sensible.
Above the Guanyin Hall is the Medicine Master's Hall, which is dedicated to the Medicine Buddha in the center, holding the pagoda in his hand, and sitting on the lotus throne, Medicine Buddha can not only eliminate disasters and prolong life and health, but also heal the greed and infatuation of all sentient beings. On either side of Medicine Buddha are the two attendants of the Nikko Bodhisattva and the Moonlight Bodhisattva, and next to the two bodhisattvas are the twelve medicine fork gods who will protect the Dharma.
There is also a two-story pavilion behind the Daxiong Treasure Hall, the first floor is the Panruo Hall, and the second floor is the Tibetan Scripture Pavilion, but unfortunately it is not open.
The abbot of the Tang Dynasty, Master Yuanhao, was recorded by the "Biography of the High Monk of the Song", and the abbot of the Song Dynasty, Master Yuanzhao, was recorded in the "Record of the Continuation of the Lantern" and summoned by the emperors of the Song Shenzong and Song Zhezong. Nanchan Temple's long history, heavy Buddhist heritage, and the surrounding bustling and lively Nanchan Temple scenic spots attract countless tourists.