Hanshan Temple in Suzhou

Hanshan Temple in Suzhou

Hanshan Temple in Suzhou is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction and a cultural heritage site.

Hanshan Temple in Suzhou

At dawn’s soft light or dusk’s hazy veil, by the riverbank or lakeside, hearing the distant chime of bells stirs a sense of historical nostalgia. Among the countless temple bells across renowned temples, none is more evocative than the sound of the bells from Hanshan Temple, west of Suzhou city.

The ancient Hanshan Temple, dating back to the Six Dynasties, was initially constructed during the Tianjian era of the Liang Dynasty (502–527 AD), but it gained worldwide fame thanks to the Tang Dynasty poet Zhang Ji. When Zhang Ji failed the imperial examination and returned home in despair, he stayed overnight near Maple Bridge in Suzhou. Inspired by the scenery, he wrote the timeless masterpiece "Mooring by Maple Bridge at Night": "The moon goes down, crows cry under the frosty sky, / Dimly-lit fishing boats 'neath maples sadly lie. / Beyond the city wall from Temple of Cold Hill / Bells break the ship-borne roamer's dream and midnight still."

The original bronze bell of Hanshan Temple was cast in the Tang Dynasty but was later destroyed. During the Jiajing era of the Ming Dynasty, the monk Benji recast the bell. Tang Yin, also known as Tang Bohu or Master Liuru, documented this in detail in his “Appeal for Casting a Bell for Hanshan Temple in Gusu,” describing the bell as having a loud, far-reaching tone that could be heard for miles. However, this bronze bell no longer exists either. One theory about the fate of the Jiajing-era bell is that it was stolen by Japanese ronin, which led to a diplomatic incident. In the 31st year of the Guangxu reign (1905), during the reconstruction of Hanshan Temple, Japanese individuals donated funds to cast two replica Tang-style bronze bells. One was sent to Hanshan Temple, and the other was placed in Japan’s Kannon-ji Temple. It bore an inscription that read: “Hanshan Temple in Gusu, having endured many trials through the years, had its Tang-era bronze bell known only through Zhang Ji’s poem. It is said that the temple’s bell once made its way to our country but has since been lost. Thus, we have cast a new bell and sent it here to be hung.” This bell still hangs on the right side of the main hall of Hanshan Temple today.

Hanshan Temple is also widely known in Japan. The temple derives its name from the two eminent monks Hanshan and Shide, who came from Tiantai Mountain to preside over it during the Zhenguan era of the Tang Dynasty. Later, Monk Shide traveled east to Japan to spread Buddhist teachings and established “Shide Temple” there, which became a sister temple to Hanshan Temple. He also introduced the Buddhist tradition of striking the bell 108 times. Japanese people believe that listening to the bell tolls can ward off evil and bring good fortune. Every New Year’s Eve, hundreds or even thousands of Japanese visit Hanshan Temple specifically to hear the bells, hoping to leave behind the troubles of the past year. This has become a unique local tourism event.

Ticket price: 20 RMB

Address: No. 24 Hanshan Temple Lane

Phone: 0512-65336634

Transportation: Accessible by bus routes 游3, 313, 406, 9, 10, 931, 324, 45, and 301.

Address: No. 24 Hanshan Temple Lane, Gusu District, Suzhou City

Type: Historical Site / Temple

Rating: AAAA

Recommended visiting time: 1–2 hours

Phone: 0512-67236213

Opening hours:

Monday–Sunday, 7:30–17:00 (ticket sales stop at 16:30)

Further reading:

· Third batch of Jiangsu Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units