Hanging Monastery stands at the foot of Mt. Hengshan, 5
kilometers (3 miles) south of Hunyuan County, and 65
kilometers (40 miles) from downtown Datong City . Since
it hangs on the west cliff of Jinxia Gorge more than 50
meters above the ground, it is called Hanging Monastery.
Hanging Monastery, built in 491, has survived more than
1400 years. The extant monastery was largely rebuilt and
maintained in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and Qing
Dynasty (1644-1911).
How could a building like this withstand the winds and
storms of so many years? Hanging Monastery is an
architectural wonder. A unique mechanical theory was
applied to building the framework. Crossbeams were
half-inserted into the rock as the foundation, while the
rock in back became its support. Seen from below,
Hanging Monastery appears to be a tumble-down castle in
the air. Inside, Hanging Monastery provides the same
scene as other temples.
Construction experts from countries including Britain,
Germany, and Italy, come to see the monastery. In their
words, Hanging Monastery, which mixes mechanics,
aesthetics, and Buddhism, is rare. The monastery and
everything it symbolizes embodies a great cultural
achievement of Chinese people.
The second attraction of Hanging Monastery is that it
includes Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism. Inside the
monastery, the sculptures of Sakyamuni, Confucius and
Laotzu appear together, which is unusual. There are 40
halls and cabinets, which contain about 80 sculptures
made of copper, iron, terracotta, and stone. The features
are vividly carved.
Why build a monastery like this? Location is the first
reason; building a monastery on the cliff could shield it
from floods. In addition, the mountain peak protects it
from rain and snow; and the mountain around it also
diminishes damage from long-time sunshine. The second
reason is that the builders followed a principle in
Taoism: no noise, including those from rooster crowing
and dog barking; so from the upper ground, all noises drop
away.
Admission Fee: 46 Opening Times: 9:10 to 17:00
Recommended Time for a Visit: Two hours
kilometers (3 miles) south of Hunyuan County, and 65
kilometers (40 miles) from downtown Datong City . Since
it hangs on the west cliff of Jinxia Gorge more than 50
meters above the ground, it is called Hanging Monastery.
Hanging Monastery, built in 491, has survived more than
1400 years. The extant monastery was largely rebuilt and
maintained in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and Qing
Dynasty (1644-1911).
How could a building like this withstand the winds and
storms of so many years? Hanging Monastery is an
architectural wonder. A unique mechanical theory was
applied to building the framework. Crossbeams were
half-inserted into the rock as the foundation, while the
rock in back became its support. Seen from below,
Hanging Monastery appears to be a tumble-down castle in
the air. Inside, Hanging Monastery provides the same
scene as other temples.
Construction experts from countries including Britain,
Germany, and Italy, come to see the monastery. In their
words, Hanging Monastery, which mixes mechanics,
aesthetics, and Buddhism, is rare. The monastery and
everything it symbolizes embodies a great cultural
achievement of Chinese people.
The second attraction of Hanging Monastery is that it
includes Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism. Inside the
monastery, the sculptures of Sakyamuni, Confucius and
Laotzu appear together, which is unusual. There are 40
halls and cabinets, which contain about 80 sculptures
made of copper, iron, terracotta, and stone. The features
are vividly carved.
Why build a monastery like this? Location is the first
reason; building a monastery on the cliff could shield it
from floods. In addition, the mountain peak protects it
from rain and snow; and the mountain around it also
diminishes damage from long-time sunshine. The second
reason is that the builders followed a principle in
Taoism: no noise, including those from rooster crowing
and dog barking; so from the upper ground, all noises drop
away.
Admission Fee: 46 Opening Times: 9:10 to 17:00
Recommended Time for a Visit: Two hours
No comments:
Post a Comment