Gaoming Temple, located three miles east of the Zhi Zhi Pagoda Courtyard on the hillside, is nestled in the Fulong Mountains. Surrounded by peaks and embraced by a serene stream, it is one of the twelve ancient temples of Tiantai Mountain founded by the wise master. Originally constructed during the Tang Dynasty with names such as Youxi Taochang, Youxi Chan Yuan, and Jingming Temple, the existing structures were rebuilt during the Wanli era of the Ming Dynasty.
The temple is rich in Buddhist scriptures and cultural relics. The plaques of ‘Gaoming Lecture Temple’ and ‘Mahavira Hall’ are both calligraphic works by Kang Youwei. The temple complex consists of more than ten halls and over two hundred rooms, with majestic and elegant architecture. The main buildings include the Hall of the Heavenly Kings, the Mahavira Hall, the Ksitigarbha Hall, and the Western Hall. To the east of the temple stands a bell tower, housing a bronze bell weighing 5000 jin. When struck, the bell’s sound echoes through the mountains and valleys, audible for miles around. This has led to the saying ‘Pagoda Wind, Gaoming Bell, Ten Thousand Year Pillar, Guoqing Pine’ as the four wonders of Tiantai Mountain temples. East of the temple, the Youxi Pavilion is inscribed with ‘Youxi,’ which is the handwriting of the wise master. Opposite the pavilion, a large rock spans across, supported by four stones, forming a natural cave known as ‘Yuantong Cave,’ hidden amidst the forest. The vicinity of the cave features numerous cliff inscriptions, with a large ‘Buddha’ character on the northern cliff face, measuring seven meters in diameter. The temple is also surrounded by scenic spots such as Xianggu Rock, Lingxiang Rock, and Jinzi Rock. The temple is open to the public all year round from 09:00 to 17:00.Gaoming Temple
Gaoming Temple, located three miles east of the Zhi Zhi Pagoda Courtyard on the hillside, is nestled[...]
