Xuedou Mountain Temple, the name of the waterfall courtyard, has a history of 1700 years, and has a long history of vicissitudes
This temple in Zhejiang, located in Xuedou Mountain, also known as the waterfall building, has a history of more than 1,700 years.
In the deep mountains of Zhejiang, there is a simple and magical temple hidden, which is embraced by Xuedou Mountain, surrounded by mountains on all sides, just like nine dragons competing for pearls. Xuedou Temple, a sacred place of Buddhist culture that has experienced a history of more than 1,700 years.
Xuedou Temple was built in the Jin Dynasty and is called "Waterfall Courtyard". It dates back 1,700 years. In 999, Zhenzong of the Northern Song Dynasty gave the name of "Xuedou Zisheng Temple", which played a pivotal role in the history of the development of Buddhism. Xuedou Temple is the Southern Song Dynasty Ningzong period, in the rating of major temples, ranked "five mountains and ten temples", enjoying a very high reputation. Zhao Yun of Song Lizong even inscribed the four characters of "Dream Famous Mountain" in his own handwriting, making it famous day by day, as if it was already a "Taoist altar" in Buddhism.
However, the development process of Xuedou Temple is tortuous. It was rebuilt five times during wars and natural disasters, and the current building was rebuilt in 1986. This long and tenacious process is a powerful testament to the eternal life and revival of the Buddhist faith.
Walking into Xuedou Temple, the first thing that catches your eye is two tall ginkgo trees. These two ginkgo biloba also have a wonderful story. They are distinguished from males and females, with female trees on the left and male trees on the right. But what is even more amazing is the legend of the two ginkgo trees planted in the Han Dynasty, known as the "Han Dynasty ginkgo". When Guo Moruo visited Xuedou Temple, he once sighed: "The giant tree of the Han Dynasty is really worthy of its name!.""It is not only a natural embellishment of the temple itself, but also a historical witness that records the vicissitudes of life for thousands of years.
Next to this big tree, there is a stone carving that reads: "Maitreya Buddha's Dojo". This monument symbolizes the deep friendship between Maitreya and Xuedou Temple. According to legend, Guanyin appeared on the riverside of Fenghua County in the image of a cloth bag monk and was adopted by the villagers of Changting. After that, he went to Fenghua Yuelin Temple as a monk, and often went to Xuedou Temple to preach and spread Buddhism. Yuelin Temple and Xuedou Temple are known as "the holy land of Maitreya Buddha", and are the "dojo" of the most famous Maitreya Buddha in Buddhism. In order to commemorate this legend, Xuedou Temple specially built the "Maitreya Palace" in the middle of the Tianwang Hall and the Daxiong Treasure Hall to show the memory of this legend.
Xuedou Temple, a treasure hidden in the mountains and rivers, is not only a sacred place of Buddhism, but also a witness to China's history and civilization. Walking into this ancient temple with a history of thousands of years, you can not only appreciate the ancient cultural heritage, but also appreciate the magical legend of Maitreya Bodhisattva. Whether you are a true religious believer or not, you should come to this place to experience its tranquility and mystery, and to explore the long history of Buddhism in China for thousands of years.