Gaoping Dinglin Temple

　　Era: Yuan to Qing Dynasties

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

　　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 still preserved in the temple, the temple existed no later than the Changxing period (930–933) of the Later Tang Dynasty. Additionally, an inscription on the ridge purlin of the Leiyin Hall reads “Made in the eleventh month of the fourth year of the Taihe era,” indicating that the temple underwent reconstruction during both 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 the majority of the others were built during the Ming and Qing periods.

　　The temple faces south and is built along the mountain slope. It measures 90 meters from north to south and 87 meters from east to west, covering an area of approximately 8,000 square meters, with a nearly square floor plan. 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 three bays deep, featuring a double-eaved hip-and-gable roof. The roof is covered with tubular and flat tiles, with glazed ridge ornaments and animal figures. It has front and rear protruding wings, and the overall plan is close to a square.

　　The Leiyin Hall is also three bays wide and three bays deep, with a single-eaved hip-and-gable roof and a slightly square floor plan. The roof is covered with tubular and flat tiles and adorned with glazed ridge ornaments and animal figures. On the threshold stone of the rear eaves door is an inscription reading “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 are fitted with plank doors, while the side bays of the front eaves and the gable ends have straight lattice windows. The eaves are supported by bracket sets of the five-purlin style. Below the hall’s beams are carved dragons. The hall is surrounded by enclosed corridors, with brackets installed under the eaves. On the upper eaves are carved decorations. Two stone pagodas stand here: 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 are well-preserved. Each pagoda stands 4.4 meters tall, with a Sumeru pedestal of inverted and upright lotus motifs at the base. The mid-section is carved with crouching lions. The top features a canopy, lotus base, upright lotus petals, and a precious bead. The body of each pagoda is inscribed on all eight sides.

　　The temple preserves over 20 stone stelae.

Dinglin Temple