Dalin Temple

Dalin Temple

Dalin Temple is a cultural tourism attraction.

　Dalin Temple, also known as Dalin Hermitage, is located on the western slope of Huangmao Ridge at the southern foot of Hengshan Mountain in Hengshanqiao Town. During the Liang Dynasty of the Southern Dynasties, a man named Wang Babai practiced Taoism here. In the Chen Dynasty (557–589), a Taoist building called Dengxian was constructed but later collapsed. At the beginning of the Qianyong era in the Tang Dynasty, the temple was restored. It was renovated again in the seventh year of the Kaibao era during the Song Dynasty (974). During the Dazhong Xiangfu period (1008–1016), it was renamed Chongxu Guan. It was destroyed during the wars at the beginning of the Yuan Dynasty. In the Hongwu era of the Ming Dynasty, monks rebuilt it on the ruins and renamed it Dalin Temple. In the thirteenth year of the Tongzhi era in the Qing Dynasty (1874), it was expanded significantly, featuring structures such as the Vajra Hall, the Mahavira Hall, scripture towers to the east and west, the Baiyun Retreat, and a liberation pond. The Vajra Hall houses statues of the Four Heavenly Kings, which are grand and solemn, comparable to those at Tianning Temple in Changzhou. The Thousand-Hand Guanyin, the Eighteen Arhats, and the statue of Sakyamuni are also exquisitely crafted. Among the eastern hall’s two arhats, one is depicted reading while the other is leaning asleep—the expressions are natural and lifelike, said to be the work of two master sculptors competing. The temple grounds include three ginkgo trees, one of which is over 800 years old, and an ancient well believed to have been where Wang Babai refined elixirs during the Liang Dynasty. To the east of the temple lies Dragon Mother Well, said to be the spot where a woman named Xiang jumped into the well. A pavilion was built over the well, featuring the couplet: “The well nurtures flying dragons, blessed by divine essence; the peak shifts from the east, sacred traces passed on through the land.” During the Cultural Revolution (“0” period), Dalin Temple suffered severe damage. Although the ancient architecture survived, none of the statues remained. In 1988, with approval, the temple resumed Buddhist activities under the leadership of Master Jinghai. The Mahavira Hall was restored to its former glory, and a magnificent Ten Thousand Buddhas Pagoda was newly built behind it.

In 1982, Dalin Temple was designated as a county-level cultural relics protection unit by the Wujin County People’s Government.

In 2004, Dalin Temple was designated as a city-level cultural relics protection unit by the Changzhou Municipal People’s Government.

Hengshanqiao Town: Located in the northeastern suburbs of Changzhou, Jiangsu Province, at 120°07’ east longitude and 31°48’ north latitude, Hengshanqiao lies in the fertile fish-and-rice region of the Yangtze River Delta and Taihu Plain. It is one of the major towns in Wujin and a shining pearl in the eastern area.

The town covers a total area of 37.6 square kilometers, including an urban area of 9.8 square kilometers. It governs 21 administrative villages, with a permanent population of 50,000, 18,000 mu of cultivated land, and 6,000 mu of hills and mountains. The area features both mountains and water, a pleasant climate, abundant resources, and well-developed infrastructure... More details about Hengshanqiao Town ++