Author Haiyun
Manuscript recommendation Sun Fengzhang
** From the original text
Xiaozhu Temple, located in the western suburbs of Kunming, Yunnan Province, is the first temple of Chinese Zen Buddhism introduced to Yunnan. Here the peaks are beautiful, the forest ravines are deep, the bamboo drops and green flags, the mountain springs are full of cong, the clouds and dew are often around the top of the mountain, the ancient temple hall is covered with dense forests, it is a famous tourist attraction at home and abroad.
During the Tang Zhenguan period, the brothers Gao Guang and Gao Zhi went to the West Mountain to hunt, and suddenly saw a rhinoceros jumping out, they rode horses and chased closely after them, and chased them to the north gully of Yushan Mountain, and the rhinoceros suddenly disappeared. Looking around, I saw that the mountain was covered with clouds and mist, and there were a group of monks, with a childlike appearance and a strange image. How can there be monks in the mountains and forests? They hurriedly climbed up the mountain to see, and when they got there, the monks were nowhere to be seen, and they saw a few monks' bamboo canes stuck in the forest, and they started to pull them out, but no one could pull them up. The next day, Gao Guang and Gao Zhi felt strange, and went to Yushan Mountain to see that the bamboo pieces inserted in the forest had "branches and leaves"! The Gao brothers were very surprised, and realized that it was the mountain spirit that showed that this was the blessed land of the spiritual mountain, so they built a temple here to live as a monk, and the temple was named Xiaozhu.
The bamboo temple is densely wooded, and the blue green is four. Two peacock fir trees (cedar) in the mountain gate, it is said that they were planted in the Hongwu period of the Ming Dynasty, it has been more than 600 years old, the trunk is vigorous and straight, and the branches and leaves are like a cover. The two trees in front of the Luohan Hall (Yunnan Mountain Magnolia) are also hundreds of years old trees, the branches and leaves are luxuriant, the summer flowers bloom like white lotus, the fragrance is floating all over the mountain, and it is rich and fragrant.
The Mongolian and Han Sacred Decree Monument (also known as the Vernacular Tablet) in the Daxiong Treasure Hall was erected in the year of Yuanrenzong Long'er (1316). The content is to enshrine "Elder Xuanjian, the abbot of Yachi Chengzi (Kunming) Yushan Xiaozhu Temple, as the head monk", and give a copy of the Tripitaka Sutra, "Xuanxuan Jian teaches the temple to repair the Tibetan scripture hall and the temple room", exempt from the temple's taxes, the military and civilians must protect the temple and protect the temple property, "the temple's pastoral, land rights, population, head boil, pavement and bathhouse, what is the stone selection, who is the one who takes the important person, and the one who rests on the strength of the .......""These Yuan pagodas and Yuan monuments are valuable both for appreciating them as cultural relics and for studying the history, geography, language and development of Buddhism in Yunnan at that time.
There are four big characters on the wall of the bamboo temple, and the most commendable is the clay sculpture of five hundred Arhats. Luohan sculpture on both sides of the "Tianwang Palace" on both sides of the "Fanyin Pavilion", "Tiantai Pavilion" and the two walls of the Daxiong Treasure Palace. Fanyin Pavilion and Tiantai Pavilion each have 216 statues, and Daxiong Hall has 68 statues. In the two pavilions and the two walls of the Daxiong Hall are divided into upper, middle and lower three layers, the sculpture is about one meter high, the image is different, the demeanor is realistic, simple and vivid, lifelike Arhat. This group of clay sculptures was carefully shaped by Sichuan sculpture master Li Guangxiu (character Desheng), who took his five apprentices from the ninth year of Guangxu to the sixteenth year of Guangxu (1883 to 1890) in the Qing Dynasty for seven years.
When Li Guangxiu portrayed the Arhats, he was determined to make the 500 Arhats have different images. In order to catch the image of the characters and accumulate materials, hire people to open a small teahouse in the black forest at the foot of Xiaozhu Temple, and when they feel that the image is difficult to shape, they go to the teahouse to drink tea, pay attention to the identity and voice and smile of the tea watchers, and draw them in time and pinch them into small samples. In the group portraits of Arhats he sculpted, there are characters from all walks of life. In front of the barefoot arhat, there is a basket containing pomegranates and Buddha's hands, and an arhat on the right bends down to pick out a pomegranate**, just like a farmer selling fruit in a vegetable market. One Arhat is holding a bamboo cane in his right hand, bent over his waist, and his left hand is gesturing and talking, while the other Arhat is bent down and listening, as if two old people are talking.
The arhat, with square steps, is domineering, like a gentleman; stretched out his fists and legs, his eyes were wide open, like a young man with strong blood and strength fighting; Bow your head and ponder, sanctimonious, like a **; Holding a scripture book in his hand, he is a scholar; The skinny, outstretched begging is obviously a beggar; The one who carries the Zen staff and leads the elephant is burly. The eyes are blazing, like Ma Bang from afar; The old man who sat barefoot and picked his ears with his cheeks and ears was itchy and comfortable, and his expression was ...... realisticallyThe sixty-eight Arhats in the Daxiong Treasure Hall take the combination of queues and group sculptures, some of the Arhats ride the clouds and fog, some wade through the sea, and some step on the beast and ......It was as if they rushed to the Daxiong Hall to listen to the Buddha's lectures. The color paintings of the five hundred Arhats inherit the traditional Chinese clay sculpture heavy color coloring method, with bright colors, sharp contrasts, and generous coordination. In the entire three-layer clay sculpture, the middle layer is particularly well molded, and it is said that it was created by Li Guangxiu himself. The upper and lower floors were shaped by him under his instruction to his apprentices.
This group of clay sculptures is free from the traditional Buddhist model of sculpting a thousand people, and uses rich figures in real society as models. Adopting a combination of realism and romanticism, the expressions of Arhat's joy, anger and sorrow, and different personalities are vividly portrayed. This kind of creation from the folk and from real life has been loved by the people for more than 100 years. Among the similar clay sculptures in the country, the artistic achievements are second to none, and they are the treasures of the clay Buddha statues in our country, so they are known as "the pearls in the treasure house of oriental sculpture art".
Climb the mountain by the black forest shop, slide the rugged mountain road of the "three bowls of water" slate, cross the dry stream and remnant bridge, pass through the pine forest path, climb slowly, and arrive at the Xiaozhu Temple through the "Wangcheng Slope". Along the way, enjoy the ancient road, the jade case mountain, listen to the wind in the valley, the sound of the pine forest, a bird's-eye view of the scenery of Dianchi Lake, and the beautiful spring city. Thinking about the past and the present, you will have a deeper understanding of "Fanyu Cloud Burying Bamboo Old".
Hidden deep in the mountains, the bamboo temple is surrounded by mountains and rivers, and is a pure land in the red dust. The Buddha statue in the temple is solemn and solemn, as if telling the story of a thousand years. The bluestone path, winding and winding, lined with green trees and flowers, seems to be listening to the temple bells and comprehending the profound Buddhist teachings, adding a bit of mystery to this ancient temple. Basking in the sunshine and strolling through the quiet ancient temples, the architectural style is elegant and solemn, which makes people respect, as if they have passed through the limitations of time and space. Sunlight shines through the gaps in the leaves on the old stone pavement, as if reflecting the vicissitudes of thousands of years in front of you. The melodious sound of the bells reverberates between the valleys, which is refreshing. The verdant mountains and forests, clear streams, and ancient temples all constitute a beautiful picture, which makes the soul purified and sublimated.
About the Author: Haiyun, now retired, has worked as an editor and reporter in a state-owned newspaper for more than 30 years, and has published more than 4,000 works in various genres in newspapers, magazines, television stations and radio stations at or above the municipal level.
Published by Positive Energy Lee Kwang You