Lingyun Temple

Lingyun Temple

Lingyun Temple is a cultural tourism attraction.

Guide

Passing by the Zaijiu Pavilion and looking up, you will see the grand entrance of Lingyun Temple perched high above, with soaring eaves, red walls, and green tiles, presenting a majestic sight. In the center of the temple gate hangs a large golden plaque inscribed with the four characters “Lingyun Chan Yuan” (Lingyun Buddhist Monastery) in the calligraphy of Su Dongpo. The couplet on both sides reads: “The great river flows eastward; Buddhist teachings come from the west.” This concise phrase not only conveys a sense of the solemnity of Buddhism but also indicates the geographical location of Lingyun Temple. It cleverly embeds the characters for “Great Buddha” within the text, showcasing the extraordinary presence of this thousand-year-old temple. [Introduction]

Also known as the Great Buddha Temple, Lingyun Temple is located on the side of Qiluan Peak of Lingyun Mountain, adjacent to the Leshan Giant Buddha. Originally built during the Tang Dynasty, it fell into disuse later. The current temple was constructed during the Ming and Qing Dynasties and features a traditional Chinese courtyard complex consisting of the Hall of Heavenly Kings, the Mahavira Hall, and the Scripture Depository arranged in three layers. The innermost hall is the Scripture Depository, originally used to store Buddhist scriptures, and was newly built in 1930. Its structure and exterior reflect modern architectural styles, making it unique and charming among the temple buildings. On the ground floor is the newly established “Hai Shi Hall,” which houses full-body statues of the Great Buddha’s builders — Monk Haitong, Zhangqiu Jianqiong, and Wei Gao — as a tribute to their legacy.

Lingyun Temple boasts magnificent architecture, a rigorous layout, and beautiful scenery. It has been praised as: “The finest landscapes under heaven are in Shu (Sichuan), those in Shu are in Jia (Leshan), and those in Jia are at Lingyun.” Carvings on the rock face, such as “Su Dongpo’s Wine-Toting Stroll Spot,” are still clearly visible, with the post-liberation restoration of Su Dongpo’s Zaijiu Pavilion situated above.

Currently, Lingyun Temple has been developed into the “Leshan Giant Buddha Exhibition Hall,” which displays a large collection of artifacts, documents, photographs, and models. These exhibits illustrate the 90-year construction history of the Leshan Giant Buddha and its preservation and restoration across generations, fully demonstrating that the Leshan Giant Buddha is indeed a world-class artistic treasure.

Leshan, Sichuan