| Jingye Temple | |
|---|---|
净业寺 | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Buddhism |
| Sect | Risshū |
| Location | |
| Location | Chang'an District, Xi'an,Shaanxi |
| Country | China |
  Shown within China | |
| Geographic coordinates | 34°01′49″N108°50′01″E / 34.0302°N 108.833663°E /34.0302; 108.833663 |
| Architecture | |
| Style | Chinese architecture |
| Date established | 581 |
Jingye Temple (simplified Chinese:净业寺;traditional Chinese:淨業寺;pinyin:Jìngyè Sì) is aBuddhist temple located on the north slope ofZhongnan Mountains, inChang'an District, Xi'an,Shaanxi,China. It is the cradle ofRisshū.[1][2]
The temple was first established in 581, at the dawn ofSui dynasty (589–618).[1]
In 624 in the 7th year ofWude period (618–626) in theTang dynasty (618–907), masterDaoxuan resided in the temple, where he taughtRisshū and promulgated Buddhist doctrines. The temple was renamed "Baiquan Temple" (白泉寺).[1][3][2]
In 665, during the reign ofEmperor Gaozong (650–683), the emperor issued the decree building a stone ordination altar (戒坛).Jianzhen, a disciple of Risshū, led monks to go to Japan to deliver Risshū, he was the founder ofJapanese Buddhism Risshū.[1]
After the fall of the Tang dynasty, Jingye Temple fell into decline.
The temple underwent three renovations in theMing dynasty (1638–1644), respectively in the ruling ofEmperor Yingzong (1437) by abbot Yunxiu (云秀) and in the 4th year ofTianshun period (1460) abbot Benquan (本泉) and in the 1st year ofLongqing period (1567).[1]
In 1681, in the 20th year ofKangxi period (1662–1722) of theQing dynasty (1644–1911), master Yan'an (严安) disseminated Buddhism in the temple.[1]
In 1812, in the region ofJiaqing Emperor (1796–1820), abbot Jigui (际桂) renovated the temple.[1]
In 1832, in the 12th year ofDaoguang period (1821–1850), master Mingchuan (明川) renovated the temple again.[1]
In 1921, master Zhihai (智海) came to Jingye Temple to preach Buddhism.
After the establishment of the Communist State, Foxin (佛心) and Zhizhen (智真) successively served as abbot of the temple.
In 1960, the temple had been a resurgence of interest in Buddhism, more than 50 monks lived in the temple.
In 1966,Mao Zedong launched theCultural Revolution, the temple was devastated by theRed Guards. Scriptures, historical documents, statues of Buddha, and other works of art were either removed, damaged or destroyed in the movement.[1]
After the 3rd Plenary Session of the 11th Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party, according to the national policy of free religious belief, Jingye Temple was officially reopened to the public in 1983. That same year, it was designated as aNational Key Buddhist Temple in Han Chinese Area.
The entire temple faces south with theShanmen,Four Heavenly Kings Hall,Mahavira Hall, Five Contemplations Dining Hall, and theBuddhist Texts Library along the central axis of the complex.[4]
TheShanmen was designed by Zhang Jinqiu (张锦秋). Under the eaves is a plaque with the Chinese characters "Jingye Temple" written byNan Huai-Chin.
Maitreya is enshrined in theHall of Four Heavenly Kings and at the back of his statue is a statue ofSkanda.Four Heavenly Kings' statues are enshrined in the left and right side of the hall. Statue of Daoxuan is placed in the center of the hall.
Behind the Four Heavenly Kings Hall is theMahavira Hall enshrining the statues ofSakyamuni,Amitabha andBhaisajyaguru.
In 667, master Daoxuan died in Jingye Temple, his disciples built a stupa to commemorate him.Emperor Yizong named it "Jingguang Stupa" (净光塔). The stupa was collapsed in an earthquake. It was rebuilt in 1567. The present version was completed in 1713.
The present Stupa of Daoxuan was built in 1713 and renovated in 1832, it is multi-eaves style brick stupa with five stories. The hexagonal-shaped stupa is about 6 metres (20 ft) high.