Embarking on a journey to the Zhaoming Great Zen Monastery begins with a trek through a steep, ancient path, nestled within the tranquil Zen forest and flanked by verdant bamboo groves. The monastery itself is home to several significant structures, including the Wei Tuo Hall, Mahavira Hall, Guanyin Hall, and the Sutra Repository, all of which have undergone recent reconstruction efforts.
Ascending further uphill from Zhaoming Temple, one arrives at Baiyunwo, a place of residence for numerous practitioners and lay Buddhists. In this serene area, visitors are respectfully requested to maintain silence. Beyond, the mountain spring and the translation platform of Prince Zhaoming come into view. At the site of the former translation platform, a new translation pavilion and a stone stele have been established, commemorating its illustrious history and the stories of the Dharma platform.
Zhaoming Great Zen Monastery stands as the revival site of the Linji School and is currently affiliated with the Pure Land School. The temple’s halls are majestic, and the harmonious sounds of bells and chimes resonate throughout, making it a highly recommended venue for Buddhist recitation by Master Jingkong, a contemporary and esteemed monk.
The current layout of Zhaoming Zen Monastery includes the Lower Court, Upper Court, Zhigong Zen Court, Baiyunwo Lecture Hall, and the Dharma platform. This ancient temple traces its origins back over 1700 years to the reign of the Liang Dynasty during the Datong era. Initially, it was not known as Zhaoming Temple. It was later named in honor of Prince Zhaoming, Xiao Tong, who compiled the ‘Zhaoming Literary Selections’ and annotated the ‘Diamond Sutra’ on Tianmu Mountain, thereby making substantial contributions to the preservation of ancient Chinese literary works and the promotion of Buddhism.In remembrance of him, the people renovated a dilapidated temple after his death and named it after him – Zhaoming. The temple is open all year round from 08:00 to 16:00. A must-see tip for visitors is to avoid wearing shorts or skirts above the knee when entering the temple.
