The Tianlong Temple Pagoda Forest is located on Yuhuan Mountain in Shizigang, Yuhuatai District. There were originally more than 50 tomb pagodas (most of which are incomplete at present. There are 15 relatively complete ones). Most of them are the ancestral pagodas of Nanjing Gulin Temple and Tianlong Temple from the Ming and Qing dynasties to modern times. The whole-body pagoda of Guxin was built in 1615, the 43rd year of Wanli in the Ming Dynasty. Monk Guxin is the successor of the Nanshan orthodox school of Chinese Buddhist Vinaya Sect since the Sui and Tang Dynasties. He is also the pioneer of Vinaya studies in the Ming, Qing and even modern times. After the passing away of Monk Guxin, a pagoda was built on Yuhuan Mountain behind Tianlong Temple. The so-called very lazy Wanli Emperor of the Ming Dynasty actually personally inscribed and praised: ‘Looking at his appearance, one can know the person. He is in samadhi and free from the six dusts. In the past, it was Vāṣpa. Now it is Guxin.’ It can be seen that Monk Guxin made indelible contributions to the revival of the Buddhist Vinaya Sect. Most of the tomb pagodas are single-layer solid stone pagodas joined by multiple sections of tenons. They also include a small number of multi-story pavilion-style pagodas and stupa-style pagodas. The plane is quadrangular, hexagonal or waist drum-shaped, and there are inscriptions on the front. The stone carvings, flowers, animals and other decorations on the pagodas are all exquisite high-reliefs. The lines are lively and smooth, and the style is delicate and free. They are physical materials for studying the stone carving art of the Ming and Qing dynasties. There are even inscriptions on seven pagoda bodies, which have historical reference value. To the west of the pagoda forest is the site of Tianlong Temple. The specific business hours and operating status are subject to the opening situation on that day.
Tianlong Temple Pagoda Forest
The Tianlong Temple Pagoda Forest is located on Yuhuan Mountain in Shizigang, Yuhuatai District. The[...]
