Dalin Temple

　　　Dalin Temple, also known as Dalin Nunnery, is located on the western slope of Huangmao Ridge at the southern foot of Hengshan Mountain in Hengshanqiao Town. During the Liang Dynasty of the Southern Dynasties, a man named Wang Babai practiced Taoism here. In the Chen Dynasty (557–589), a Taoist hall named Dengxian was built but later fell into ruin. In the early years of the Qianning era of the Tang Dynasty, the Taoist site was renovated. In the seventh year of the Kaibao era of the Song Dynasty (974), it was rebuilt. During the Dazhong Xiangfu period (1008–1016), it was renamed Chongxu Guan. It was destroyed during the wars at the beginning of the Yuan Dynasty. In the Hongwu era of the Ming Dynasty, monks rebuilt it on the ruins and renamed it Dalin Temple. In the thirteenth year of the Tongzhi era of the Qing Dynasty (1874), it was expanded again to a considerable scale, featuring the Vajra Hall, Mahavira Hall, East and West Scripture Towers, Baiyun Retreat, and a Liberation Pond. The Vajra Hall houses statues of the Four Heavenly Kings, which are majestic and solemn, comparable to those in the Tianning Temple in Changzhou. The Thousand-Handed Guanyin, Eighteen Arhats, and Sakyamuni Buddha statues are also exquisitely crafted. In the east hall, two of the arhats—one depicted reading and the other leaning asleep—are rendered with such natural expressions and lifelike detail that they are said to be the work of two master sculptors competing in their craft. Within the temple grounds are three ginkgo trees, one ancient well, with one of the ginkgos being over 800 years old, and the ancient well is said to be where Wang Babai of the Liang Dynasty refined elixirs. To the east of the temple lies the Dragon Mother Well, believed to be the spot where a girl named Xiang jumped into the well. A pavilion was built over the well, inscribed with the couplet: “The well nourishes the flying dragon, its divine essence heaven-given; the peak shifts from the east, its sacred trace earth-borne.” During the Cultural Revolution, Dalin Temple suffered severe damage. Although the ancient structures were fortunately preserved, none of the temple statues survived. In 1988, with approval, Dalin Temple resumed Buddhist activities. Monk Jinghai became the abbot and renovated the Mahavira Hall, restoring its former glory. Behind the Mahavira Hall, a grand new Wanfo (Ten Thousand Buddhas) Tower was also constructed.

　　    In 1982, Dalin Temple was designated as a county-level cultural heritage site by the People’s Government of Wujin County.

　　　　In 2004, Dalin Temple was designated as a city-level cultural heritage site by the People’s Government of Changzhou City.