Daming temple

It is located on Shu Gang middle summit which is 2 kilometers away from northwest of downtown Yangzhou . It was built in period of Daming of Liu Song (457-464), so it is called Daming temple.

During the Sui Dynasty, located on west of the city ， the temple is called West temple as well. Ren Shou zero year in Sui dynasty (601), there is a Xiling pagoda in the temple, which had 9 layers, so it was also called Xiling temple. Tianbao zero year (742), a great bonze called Jianzhen taught rules in the temple. After a decade, he ferried to Japan to promulgate sutras and precepts. During Northern Song Qingli calendar (1041-1048), Ouyang Xiu built the Flat-Mountain Hall. From Yuan Dynasty to Ming Dynasty, experiencing several turmoils, Daming temple was nearly destroyed to wildness. During the period of Tianshun in Ming Dynasty(157-1620), two monks, Fuzhi and Mingcang, rebuilt it, still called Daming temple; During the period of Wanli, Wuxiu, a defense zillah, rebuilt the temple again; During the period of Chongzhen, Yang Renyuan who was appointed by emperor to patrol river, rebuilt Daming temple. In Kangxi's period of Qing dynasty, to avoid the words " Daming", its name was changed to Xiling temple in due form. The thirtieth year of Qianlong (1765), Qianlong emperor visited Yangzhou, changing the name to "Fajing temple", called the Flat-Mountain Hall by the public, which was one of 8 famous temples at that time in Yangzhou. During the period of Xianfeng, the temple was burnt down by flames of war. The twelfth year of Tongzhi ， Fang Boyi, who transported salt, and a monk named Wutang, rebuilt it. After the period of Guangxu, the palace was far from servicing, the monk Jiaoran collected money and renovated the temple, and at the same time built the Tianwang palace. In 1921, a Japanese found that the Fajing temple is the Daming Temple , where The monk Jianzhen was invited to promulgate power of Buddha to Japan during the Tang Dynasty, and asked an expert in Japanese literature wrote a inscription. In 1934, Wang Ru rebuilt the temple. In August, 1967, the People's Committee of Jiangsu Province decided that the temple is main cultural relic preserved unit at the provincial level. In October, 1963, in order to monumentalize the Master Jianzhen's death for 1200 years, the government began to build commemorative hall for Jianzhen. Before the "Cultural Revolution" the temple was allowed to be peserved. During the "Cultural Revolution" the temple was under impingement, all monks were banished from temple, but under the protection of decree the joss and cultural relic were out of wreck, and after that the temple was managed by the department of park. In November, 1973, the commemorative hall for Jianzhen was finished, and the temple changed its name to Flat-Mountain Park . In order to receive "the exhibition of Japanese national treasure -- The picture of Jianzhen", the temple was renovated to new and changed to its old name " Fajing Temple " to Daming temple

On April 14th, 1980 , the disciples of Jianzhen molded a status. It is protected by the head of a Japanese temple who arrived at Daming temple, This was hailed heavily by Yangzhou citizens. The exposition was open for 7 days, a hundred monks held a great meeting for it, and about 170 thousand foreign gusts and people from all parts of the country had visited the exposition. In 1980, Daming temple handed it over to department of religious affairs. In March, 1982, the government of Jiangsu again acknowledged daming temple as cultural relic preservation in province class. At the same year, the State Department has enlisted the temple as key open temple in the region of Han nationality in the country, and also it with The Shugang and Slim West Lake , and other places of interest in this location are ranked as " Shugang-Slim West Lake scenery" of national class.

In front of the ancient temple door, there is a simple and unsophisticated and exquisite decorated archway, with four poles and three trees , and the head of marquee, above the midst gate ,there are four characters, "Stay to work properly the ruins" and behind which there is a stele with "An area of plentiful joy" four characters. In front of the gate of the temple, a couple of stone lines standing beside, which is the relic of Yuan Dynasty Yang Zhou palace? On the east wall of the temple, there is a stone inscription with "Huai Dong first sight" five big characters that was written by Jiang Heng, a calligrapher of Qing Dynasty, in accordance with the visit of Qing Shaoyou and written poem of "Shen ren ruo wend eng lin mei, xu zuo Huai Dong first sight'

Maittreya sits towards the entrance, smiling, with the Buddha Guard Weituo behind him and four Kingkungs standing besides him. A path joints the exit and leads the visitors out. Ancient trees, high and thick, stand straightly besides this path and almost keep it from sunshine all day long. There are 2 precious pots in the center of the path. And besides the southern path lie the East Courtyard and West Courtyard. Above the door of the East Courtyard, there is a board on which writing "Excellent writer in essays". And the door belongs to Pingyuan Pavilion, in which the guests of Daming Temple rest, and the monks live and study near this pavilion. The "Old house for celestial beings" is on the board above the West Courtyard door. Here is the Flat-Mountain Hall, with a path leading directly to the Precious Hall of the Great Hero. There are 3 rooms in this hall and a corridor. The eaves are built according to the shape of hills with a corridor both in front and behind, which is very solemn and magnificent. The three great Buddha sit in the centre of the hall. The middle one, who is sitting high lotus throne, is Sakyamuni, with Buddha chemist at his left and Amitabha right, guarded by the 18 arhats besides them. Behind the Buddha altar, there are 106 different sized statures, including the Avalokitesvara riding a chela, they are all very lifelike. All of them are called "Avalokitesvara of island".