| Nengren Temple | |
|---|---|
能仁寺 | |
 Theshanmen at Nengren Temple. | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Buddhism |
| Sect | Chan Buddhism |
| Leadership | Shi Puyu (释普钰)[1] |
| Location | |
| Location | Xunyang District,Jiujiang,Jiangxi |
| Country | China |
  Shown within China | |
| Coordinates | 29°17′30″N116°24′38″E / 29.291566°N 116.410637°E /29.291566; 116.410637 |
| Architecture | |
| Style | Chinese architecture |
| Established | 502–549 |
| Completed | 1870 (reconstruction) |
Nengren Temple (Chinese:能仁寺;pinyin:Néngrén Sì) is aBuddhist temple located inXunyang District ofJiujiang,Jiangxi,China. Nengren Temple is one of the "Three Buddhist Temples of Jiujiang". It has been authorized as aNational Key Buddhist Temple in Han Chinese Area by theState Council of China in 1983. Nengren Temple was first built in theNorthern and Southern dynasties (420–589), and went through many changes and repairs through the following dynasties. The modern temple was founded in 1870 in theTongzhi period of theQing dynasty (1644–1911).
Nengren Temple was first built between 502 and 549 during the reign ofEmperor Wu of Liang ofLiang dynasty (502–557), rebuilt in theDali period (766–779) ofTang dynasty, and initially called "Chengtian Temple" (承天院).[2]
The temple had reached unprecedented heyday in the reign ofEmperor Renzong (1041–1048) of theNorthern Song dynasty (960–1127), while monk Baiyunduan (白云端) resided in the temple chanting and practicing scriptures, and attracted large numbers of practitioners.[2]
In 1352, in the 12th year ofZhizheng period (1341–1370) in theYuan dynasty (1271–1368), the temple was completely destroyed by war.
In 1379, at the dawn ofMing dynasty (1368–1644), the local government rebuilt the temple. In 1498, in the second year ofHongzhi era, the temple was renamed "Nengren Temple". In 1573 during the reign ofWanli Emperor, theBuddhist Texts Library was added to the temple.
In theQianlong period (1736–1796) of theQing dynasty (1644–1911), the emperor bestowed a set ofTripitakas on the temple. During theXianfeng period (1851–1861), it became deserted and restored in theTongzhi period (1862–1874).[2]
In July 1957, theJiangxi People's Provincial Government classified the temple as a provincial-level key cultural heritage.
In 1983, Nengren Temple was designated as aNational Key Buddhist Temple in Han Chinese Area by theState Council of China.
Nengren Temple is built along the up and down of mountains and divided into the front, middle and end routes. The central axis of the complex are theShanmen, Shuangyang Bridge,Mahavira Hall, Iron Buddha Hall, andBuddhist Texts Library.[2]
The Mahavira Hall is the main hall of Nengren Temple enshriningSakyamuni. Statues ofKassapa andAnanda are placed on the left and right sides of his statue. The statues ofEighteen Arhats stand on both sides of the hall.
The Dasheng Pagoda (大胜塔) was first built in 766 and rebuilt in 1379. The seven-story, 42.26-metre-tall (138.6 ft),hexagonal-based Chinese pagoda is made of brick and stone.
The Stone Boat (石船) was made in 1406 in the Qingli period ofNorthern Song dynasty (960–1127). It is 5 metres (16 ft) long, 1 metre (3 ft 3 in) wide, and 6 metres (20 ft) deep. During the Yuanyou period (1086–1094), an iron Buddha (铁佛) was cast and placed on the boat. Legend says that in the Northern Song dynasty a monk dreamed about an iron Buddha ferrying across the river in a stone boat. In theCultural Revolution, the Iron Buddha was demolished by theRed Guards.
The marble three-arch Shuangyang Bridge (双阳桥; 'Twin Sun Bridge') was built in the Yuanyou period (1086–1094) of the Northern Song dynasty (960–1127), its banisters were engraved patterns of various flying phoenixes, lotuses, Hercules, monsters, etc.