Jingjiang Bell Tower

　　The bell tower was originally built in the third year of the Longqing era during the Ming Dynasty (1569), and later reconstructed in the tenth year of the Chongzhen era (1637). The structure is square-shaped, with a solid granite foundation. It consists of two levels, featuring an exquisitely crafted design. Surrounded by long fir wood railings and enclosed corridors, the tower showcases gilded walls, carved lintels, tiered bracket sets (dougong), and interlocking beams that support the elegantly overhanging eaves. The roof ridge rises high, resembling a soaring dragon; the corner ornaments curve upwards like flying phoenixes; and the upturned eaves give the impression of wings ready to take flight. The main gate faces west and is inscribed with four characters—"Amitabha Buddha"—written in a flowing semi-cursive script by Liu Danwu, a renowned local calligrapher. The calligraphy is graceful and expressive. Inside the gate stands a stone stele of exceptional craftsmanship, depicting the Bodhisattva Guanyin. She holds a willow branch, steps on the blue waves of the South Sea, is dressed in white, and exudes an ethereal grace. A young boy beside her carries a gourd on his back, adding a charming touch. With just a few simple lines, the artist created a vivid and lifelike image—an achievement only a master could accomplish. On the reverse side of the stele is the "Record of the Chongsheng Temple Bell Tower," written by Zhang Bingduo, the magistrate of Jingjiang during the Longqing era of the Ming Dynasty. It details the construction process and completion date of the bell tower. The inscription was calligraphed by Zhou Tianqiu, a celebrated Ming Dynasty painter and calligrapher, in elegant regular script with seal engraving. Judging from the partially faded inscriptions, the front-side image of Guanyin is also believed to be the work of Zhou Tianqiu. In 1993, this Guanyin stele was also listed as a provincial-level cultural relic protection unit by the Jiangsu Provincial People's Government.

　　A bronze bell hangs from the beam on the upper floor of the bell tower. It is over eight feet tall, with a diameter of more than four feet, and weighs more than 5,000 jin (approximately 2.5 metric tons). The bell bears inscriptions: At the top: “May the Buddha bring joy to all beings.” At the bottom: “May the Emperor’s heart bring order to the branches (of life).” To the east: “Hearing the bell lightens sins.” To the south: “Wisdom grows with enlightenment.” To the west: “Distinguishing dusk from dawn brings vigilance.” To the north: “May this resonance awaken and save people.” These inscriptions reveal the bell’s purpose: its sound is meant to remind, discipline, enlighten, and inspire people to do good. Legend says that when the bell was first hung, the weight caused the beams to shake violently, alarming the workers, who were at a loss for how to stabilize the structure. Just then, an old man with white hair and a youthful face appeared. After helping to hang the bell, he removed one of his straw sandals and placed it between the beam and the bell’s yoke. This stabilized the tower, which has stood safely ever since. Before leaving, the old man instructed that the bell should not be rung until three days after his departure, so that its sound could travel across the land. But the monks of Chongsheng Temple, unable to wait, rang the bell almost immediately after he left. At that moment, the old man had only walked ten li (approximately five kilometers). As a result, the bell’s sound was said to only reach ten li. People then realized that the old man must have been a celestial being in disguise.

　　During the Ming Dynasty, officials used a “water clock” (bronze clepsydra) to mark time, ringing the bell 108 times at both dawn (the Mao hour) and dusk (the Hai hour). Later, with mechanical clocks, the bell was rung twice daily—at 6:00 AM and 10:00 PM. In the tenth year of the Tongzhi era of the Qing Dynasty (1884), Magistrate Ye Zisen renovated the bell tower, and a commemorative stone stele was embedded in the wall at the front of the tower. Historical records indicate that the bell tower once had 20 mu (approximately 1.3 hectares) of farmland, which provided a steady income for its maintenance. However, the land was eventually repurposed, funding ceased, and the tower gradually deteriorated. Eventually, the bell fell silent.