Gaoping Dinglin Temple

Gaoping Dinglin Temple

Gaoping Dinglin Temple is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Dinglin Temple (Fifth Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units)

Dinglin Temple

Era: Yuan to Qing

Address: 5 km southeast of Gaoping City, at the southern foot of Qifoshan Mountain, north of Mishan Town

Originally named Yongde Temple, it was later called Dinglin Temple due to the presence of Dinglin Spring nearby. The exact date of its establishment is unknown. According to a stele from the second year of the Dading era (1162) of the Jin Dynasty found in the temple, it existed no later than the Changxing period (930–933) of the Later Tang Dynasty. Additionally, an inscription on the ridge finial of the Leiyin Hall states “Made in the eleventh month of the fourth year of the Taihe era,” indicating that the temple underwent reconstruction during the Jin and Yuan dynasties. Further renovations were carried out during the Ming and Qing dynasties. Among the existing structures, only the Leiyin Hall dates back to the Yuan Dynasty, while most others were built or renovated during the Ming and Qing periods.

The temple faces south and is built against the mountain. It measures 90 meters in length from north to south and 87 meters in width from east to west, covering an area of approximately 8,000 square meters, with a nearly square layout. Along the central axis from south to north are: the Guanyin Pavilion, the Leiyin Hall, the Zhijuan and Menjin caves, and the Seven Buddhas Hall. On both sides are corridors, side halls, pavilions, towers, and auxiliary courtyards.

The Guanyin Pavilion is three bays wide and deep, featuring a two-story double-eave hip-and-gable roof covered with tubular plain tiles. Its ridges and ornaments are made of glazed ware. It has front and rear protruding wings, and the overall plan is close to square.

The Leiyin Hall is three bays wide and deep, with a single-eave hip-and-gable roof and a slightly square layout. Its roof is covered with tubular plain tiles and adorned with glazed ridge ornaments. A stone door socket at the rear eave bears the inscription “Recorded on the tenth day of the fourth month of the fourth year of the Yan? era.” The central bays of the front and rear eaves have plank doors, while the side bays of the front eave and the gable ends feature lattice windows. The eaves are decorated with bracket sets of the five-puzuo style. The lower part of the hall's interior columns features carved decorations. On both sides are... The hall houses two stone pagodas: one made in the second year of the Taiping Xingguo era (977) and the other in the second year of the Yongxi era (985), both well preserved. Each pagoda stands 4.4 meters tall, with a base of inverted lotus and Sumeru pedestal, a waist section carved with crouching lions, and an upper section featuring a canopy, lotus base, upside-down lotus, and precious bead. The eight sides of the pagoda shaft are inscribed with Buddhist scriptures.

The temple preserves over 20 stone stelae and tablets.

Further Reading:

· Fifth Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units