Lingyan Temple (simplified Chinese:灵岩寺;traditional Chinese:靈巖寺;pinyin:Língyán Sì;lit. 'Temple of the Spiritual Rocks') is aBuddhist temple located inChangqing District,Jinan,Shandong Province,China, about 20 kilometres (12 mi) north of the city ofTai'an.^[1] The temple grounds are situated in a valley on the western edge of theTaishan range. The Lingyan Temple has a longrecorded history, and was one of the main temples in China during the times of the Tang and Song Dynasties. Its most renowned landmarks are the 11th centuryPìzhī-tǎ (辟支塔; "Pizhi Pagoda") and theQiānfó-diàn (千佛殿, "Thousand Buddha Hall") which houses aMing dynasty bronzeBuddha statue as well as 40 painted clay statues of life-sizeluohan from theSong dynasty.^[2]

The original temple was established in the Yongxing reign period (357–358), during the reign ofFú Jiān (r. 357–385) of theFormer Qin state. Gaining a greater reputation during theNorthern Wei (386–534), the temple reached its apex of importance during theTang dynasty (618–907) andSong dynasty (960–1279). There were over 40 different wooden temple halls located at the temple, composing more than 500 monastic rooms.^[3] More than 500Buddhist monks lived at Lingyan Temple during its height.^[1] The oldest structures at the site are the various stonestupas and square-based stoneChinese pagoda in thepavilion style from the Tang dynasty, the 8th century Huichong Pagoda. Of the 167 stone stupas at the temple, no two are identical, and like the luohan statues of the Qiānfó-diàn, have been well preserved.^[2] The tallest structure of the temple is the 54 m (177 ft) tall Pìzhī-tǎ, built originally in 753, although the present structure was built from 1056 to 1063.^[3][4] Although the wooden halls were all reconstructed during theMing dynasty (1368–1644) andQing dynasty (1644–1912), the stone pedestals at the base of the pillars in the Qiānfó-diàn are the original work of the Tang and Song eras.^[3]

• 
  The exterior of the Qiānfó-diàn (Thousand Buddha Hall) of Lingyan Temple. Notice the elaboratedougong brackets supporting the pent, shingled roof.
• 
  Some of the 167stupas in the stupa forest at Lingyan, some as old as theTang dynasty (618 - 907) while some date as late as theQing dynasty (1644 - 1911).
• 
  This squared stupa (742-755 AD,Tang dynasty) marks the burial of monk Hui Chong, who led the monastery during his lifetime.
• 
  The corners of the pagoda display dour guardian telamons such as this, that symbolically hold up the entire structure
• 
  From a cliffside of nearbyMount Tai, a view onto Lingyan Temple andPìzhī-tǎ (Pizhi Pagoda)

• Architecture of the Song dynasty
• List of sites in Jinan
• Cassock Spring

• Valder, Peter. (2002).Gardens in China. Portland: The Timber Press, Inc.ISBN 0-88192-555-1.

Wikimedia Commons has media related toLingyan Temple (Jinan).

• Lingyan Temple at ChinaCulture.org
• Huichong Pagoda at China.org.cn

36°21′46″N116°58′41″E / 36.36278°N 116.97806°E /36.36278; 116.97806

• 8th-century Buddhist temples
• Buildings and structures completed in 1063
• Religious buildings and structures completed in the 1060s
• 11th-century Buddhist temples
• Song dynasty architecture
• Tang dynasty Buddhist temples
• Buddhist temples in Jinan
• Tourist attractions in Jinan
• Major National Historical and Cultural Sites in Shandong

• Webarchive template wayback links
• Pages using gadget WikiMiniAtlas
• Articles with short description
• Short description is different from Wikidata
• Articles containing simplified Chinese-language text
• Articles containing traditional Chinese-language text
• Commons category link is on Wikidata
• Articles containing Chinese-language text
• Coordinates on Wikidata