Puning Temple (Jiangxi)

Puning Temple (simplified Chinese: 普宁寺; traditional Chinese: 普寧寺; pinyin: Pǔníng Sì; lit. 'Temple of Universal Peace') is a Buddhist temple located on Mount Wu'an in Yushan County, Jiangxi, China.

Puning Temple
普宁寺
The Shanmen at Puning Temple.
Religion
AffiliationBuddhism
DeityChan BuddhismCaodong school
LeadershipShi Zhaorong (释照荣)[1]
Location
LocationMount Wu'an, Yushan County, Jiangxi
CountryChina
Geographic coordinates28°40′10.9″N 118°15′08.02″E / 28.669694°N 118.2522278°E / 28.669694; 118.2522278
Architecture
StyleChinese architecture
FounderShi Dading (释达定)
Date established668–670
Completed1994 (reconstruction)

History

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The temple was first established between 668 and 670, under the Tang dynasty (618–907). It was converted from the private residence donated by painter and official Yan Liben.[2][3]

The temple had reached an unprecedented heyday in the Song dynasty (960–1279), during that time, it was about 30 mu in size with over 100 rooms and halls, and included 160 monks.

After Song dynasty, the temple declined and mostly disappeared during the late Yuan dynasty (1271–1368).

Puning Temple was restored in 1822, in the reign of Daoguang Emperor in the Qing dynasty (1644–1911).

In 1924, Puning Temple collapsed due to neglect. Then Abbot Fasen (法森) rebuilt it.

In 1933, in order to build the Zhejiang–Jiangxi railway, the government demolished the Middle Hall.

In 1942, Puning Temple turned to ashes by a devastating fire during the Japanese invasion of the Second Sino-Japanese War.

Architecture

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Now the existing main buildings include Shanmen, Heavenly Kings Hall, Mahavira Hall, Buddhist Texts Library and the Tomb of Yan Liben.

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References

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  1. ^ 江西玉山普宁寺照荣大和尚晋院升座. sina (in Chinese). 2013-11-06.
  2. ^ 教泽悠长的书院文化. jxnews.com.cn (in Chinese). 2010-11-30.
  3. ^ 江西玉山城市公园:人文景观与生态景致密切融合. yuanlin.com (in Chinese). 2014-04-23.