Nanjing Gaozuo Temple

Nanjing Gaozuo Temple

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

Gaozuo Temple is located on Yuhuatai, outside Zhonghua Gate in the southern part of Nanjing. It was first built in the early Eastern Jin Dynasty and was originally named "Ganlu Temple." According to the *Records of Buddhist Temples in Jinling*, in the early Eastern Jin Dynasty, the monk Shilimiduoluo from the Western Regions traveled south to Jiankang and was highly respected by Prime Minister Wang Dao. He thus preached at this temple. Because he sat on a high platform while lecturing, people respectfully called him the "High Seat Taoist," and henceforth the temple also became known as "Gaozuo" (High Seat). Another account states that the High Seat Taoist later passed away in Jiankang and was buried in this temple. Emperor Yuan had a stupa and tomb built for him, and the temple was subsequently renamed Gaozuo Temple.

In the early Liang Dynasty, Master Baizhi presided over the temple, and Cloud Light Dharma Master preached on the mountaintop. Over five hundred monks sat cross-legged and listened attentively to his captivating lectures for several days without dispersing, until they moved the heavens. Flowers rained down from the sky, and the high platform where the sermons were held became known as "Yuhuatai" (Rain Flower Terrace).

Gaozuo Temple was abolished in the early Hongwu era, and most of its buildings were later destroyed in a great fire. During the Jingtai era, in the year of Guiyou (1453), Hu Ying, the Minister of Rites, came to offer incense. At that time, the temple's scale was still largely intact but in a state of disrepair. In the Chenghua era, Monk Zhaotang raised funds for renovations, and formal reconstruction began in the twelfth month of the year Wushen (1488) during the Hongzhi era, finally completing in the tenth month of the year Bingchen (1496). The renovations restored the Medicine Buddha Hall and the Pure Karma Hall, as well as the East and West Rooms, the Bell and Drum Towers, the kitchen, and other structures. The temple is situated right behind Yuhuatai.

Yuhuatai was originally a hill formed by the continuous sedimentation of silt from the ancient Yangtze River and its tributary, the Qinhuai River, over two to three million years ago. The quartzite and agate stones on the hill are brightly colored and crystal clear, resembling flowers blooming within the rocks—these are the famous Yuhua Stones. Yuhuatai was historically known as Jubao Mountain or Agate Ridge. The southern gate of Ming Dynasty Nanjing—Jubao Gate (now Zhonghua Gate)—was named after this hill. Jubao Mountain originally had three ridges: the western ridge, called Shizi Ridge, located outside Andemen; the central ridge, the main peak known as Fengtai Ridge, which was the site of the Ming Dynasty’s outer Fengtai Gate; and the eastern ridge, called Meiridge, where the home of Mei Ze, the governor of Yuzhang in the Eastern Jin Dynasty, was located at the foot of the ridge. Due to his contributions to the Jin Dynasty, a temple was later built there named the Temple of General Mei, hence it was also called Mei Ze Ridge. The central and eastern ridges were closely connected and commonly referred to as Yuhuatai, while the western ridge, located several miles away, was called Shizi Ridge.

To the west of Yuhuatai lies Juhuatai, often referred to as its twin sister. Juhuatai features lush bamboo forests and rolling hills, renowned for its numerous historical sites and beautiful natural scenery. Legend has it that when Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty traveled to the south of the Yangtze River, he passed through this area during golden autumn. He saw chrysanthemums covering the hills, shimmering with golden and jade-like hues, radiating extraordinary beauty. Captivated by the view, he was so enchanted that he named the place on the spot.

Scenic Area Address: Within Yuhuatai Scenic Area, Yuhua District, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province

Transportation Routes:

Bus routes passing through the North Gate of Yuhuatai (get off at Yuhuatai Station): Take Tourist Line 2, Tourist Line 4, Bus 26, 88, 105, 111, 137, 305, 814, 816, An-Dan Line, An-Tong Line, Ning-Dan Line, Ning-Jing Line, or Yu-Gu Line.

Bus routes passing through the South Gate of Yuhuatai (get off at Yuhuatai South Gate Station): Take Tourist Line 2, Tourist Line 4, Bus 33, 44, 119, 129, 154, 820, Ning-Feng Line, Ning-Jing Line, or Yu-Gu Line.