Nanjing Qingliang Temple

Nanjing Qingliang Temple

Nanjing Qingliang Temple is a cultural relic protection unit of Nanjing City.

Nanjing Qingliang Temple, originally built during the Southern Dynasties, is the birthplace of the Fayan School—one of the five major schools of Chinese Zen Buddhism. Founded by the eminent monk Master Wenyi of the Southern Tang Dynasty, the Fayan School's Zen philosophy holds a lofty status and value in the history of Chinese Buddhism, exerting far-reaching influence across Japan, Korea, and Southeast Asia, with profound historical significance.

The Qingliang Mountain derived its name from the temple. As the foremost Buddhist temple of the Southern Tang Dynasty, the flourishing Qingliang Grand Monastery during its heyday was a significant representation of Nanjing’s traditional Buddhist culture, the elite culture of Qingliang Mountain, and the regional culture of Jinling. "Seeking Enlightenment at Qingliang" was even one of the long-celebrated "Forty-eight Scenic Spots of Jinling." Therefore, in this era of peace and flourishing Buddhism, restoring and rebuilding this thousand-year-old temple not only fulfills the aspirations of Buddhists worldwide to worship at their ancestral temple and trace their spiritual roots—finding the “root” of the Fayan School and revitalizing its traditions—but also supports the municipal government’s directive on “integrating Buddhist resources.” It helps fill the historical gap of no restored temples in Gulou District and carries immeasurable significance in promoting a harmonious urban development that integrates nature, history, sightseeing, and culture.

To this end, after consultations and adhering to a gradual and steady principle, the Nanjing Municipal Bureau of Religious Affairs, the Nanjing Buddhist Association, the Nanjing Municipal Gardening Bureau, and the Qingliang Mountain Park Management Office handed over one existing hall and five tile-roofed houses of Qingliang Temple to the Buddhist community in January 2009. On June 20 of the same year, a Buddha statue consecration ceremony was held, officially opening the site as a place for religious activities.