Changlu Ancient Temple

Changlu Ancient Temple

Changlu Ancient Temple is a cultural tourism attraction.

Changlu Ancient Temple

Changlu Ancient Temple in Luhe District, Nanjing, is now part of Changlu Middle School (Nanhua Technical School). It is said to have been the place where Bodhidharma crossed the Yangtze River and stayed. The temple was expanded over successive dynasties and once had a large scale. However, it was destroyed multiple times by wars and —, and finally vanished in 1955 (due to public outrage over scandalous monks, leading to the temple’s demolition).

Changlu Ancient Temple was the residence of Bodhidharma, the founder of Zen Buddhism, and one of the “Four Hundred and Eighty Temples” from the Southern Dynasties. During the reign of Emperor Wu of Liang, Bodhidharma “crossed the river on a reed” and arrived here to preach and teach, making Changlu Ancient Temple extremely prosperous at that time.

Today, the site of Changlu Temple still retains sixteen massive stone column bases, an ancient plum blossom-shaped well, ancient ginkgo trees, and other relics from the Song Dynasty. The largest column base has a diameter of 1.3 meters, and two of the plum blossom wells still exist, both capable of producing water. The former site of Changlu Temple is now home to Changlu Middle School. The sound of Buddhist chants has faded, replaced by the ringing sounds of students reading — a scene that stirs deep reflection.