Nantong Tianning Temple

Nantong Tianning Temple

Nantong Tianning Temple is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Jiangsu Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Unit, First and Second Batches, adjusted and announced in March 1982. Tianning Temple was rebuilt during the Ming Xuande era (1426–1435), located on Zhongxue Tang Street in Nantong City. 　

Located at the west end of Zhongxue Tang Street in Nantong City. Originally built during the Northern Song Dynasty, though some say it dates back to the Tang Xiantong era (860–873). Most of the current structures were rebuilt during the Ming Xuande era (1426–1435). The main hall was renovated in 1991. The main buildings of Tianning Temple today include the Mountain Gate, Heavenly King Hall, Mahavira Hall, and Guangxiao Pagoda. The pagoda has five levels and eight sides, with a mixed brick-and-wood structure. The wooden parts of the Heavenly King Hall and Mahavira Hall still retain architectural styles from the Liao and Yuan dynasties. It is one of the more intact groups of Ming Dynasty Buddhist buildings preserved in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River.

Nantong Tianning Chan Temple was originally built during the Tang Dynasty. It is one of the oldest, largest, and best-preserved Buddhist temples in Nantong. It is also one of the three surviving Tang Dynasty temples in the Jianghai region of Nantong (along with Guangjiao Temple on Langshan Mountain, Dinghui Temple in Rugao, and Tianning Temple in Nantong). The Ming Dynasty’s Wanli Annals and the Qing Dynasty’s Kangxi Annals both record: “Built by the monk Zaohuan Hall during the Tang Xiantong era. Originally named Guangxiao, it was renamed to its current name in the first year of the TianShun era upon the petition of the monk Fa’en.” The Qianlong Annals added: “The temple has a five-level Guangxiao Pagoda, and behind it lies the Pilu Pavilion. Built during the Song Xianchun era (approximately 990–1003) by a man surnamed Guan, with funds raised by the monk Fa’en.” The record that “in the first year of TianShun, Fa’en petitioned to change the name to its current one” is incorrect—it should be Shanhui. As for ‘a man surnamed Guan,’ it is difficult to verify, though monks referred to him as ‘Guan Gong, Guan Po,’ and his image was enshrined in the Vajra Hall. During the Xianchun era, the Song Dynasty’s Minister of War, Yin Yinglei (a native of the area, some say from Shigang), donated his residence to the temple (some records say it was Guan who donated the house). Tianning Temple was originally the Fèngshèng Temple. It was located west of the state administration office but was relocated to Tianning Chan Temple during the Zhenghe era (1111–1118) and merged into Bao’en Guangxiao. Later, it became commonly known as Tianning Chan Temple.

Further Reading:

· First and Second Batches of Jiangsu Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units

· Sixth Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units