Shengen Temple

Shengen Temple

Shengen temple, full name Tianshou Shengen temple. It is located in the southeast of guangfuxuan tomb, Wuzhong District, Suzhou City, under chaizhuangling, facing Taihu Lake. During the Tianbao period of Tang Dynasty, Shengen temple was established as "Tianshou Temple". During the reign of Baoyou in the Southern Song Dynasty, "Shengen Chan Temple" was built. The temples and nunneries were juxtaposed. They were once set up as the upper and lower Taoist temples. In the first year of Tianshun in the Yuan Dynasty (1328), a Suji eight imperial edicts granted the plaque of "Shengen Chan Temple". At the beginning of the reign, Tianshou temple was destroyed by fire, and Shengen Temple survived. As the birthplace of Nanzong Buddhism, Kangxi and Qianlong of Qing Dynasty stopped here many times in Guangfu tanmei. In the ninth year of Zhizheng period (1349), Zen master Wei, a famous monk in the south of the Yangtze River, entered Wu from Hangzhou and lived in Xuanmu mountain. With the arrival of Wanfeng, the number of believers is increasing. In the ninth year of Hongwu (1376) of Ming Dynasty, Guanyin Pavilion and halls were built, and Shengen Temple began to take shape.

Historical evolution

The reign of Emperor Kangxi and Emperor Qianlong of Qing Dynasty was the heyday of Shengen temple. It has become one of the five famous temples in China.

Cao Xueqin once mentioned Guangfu Xuanmu mountain twice in a dream of Red Mansions. In the 41st chapter, he wrote that Jia Baoyu, Lin Daiyu and Xue Baochai waited until Xuanmu Panxiang Temple became a monk to taste tea.

Shengen temple is a branch of Yangqi school in Zen and Linji. Wanfeng Shiwei (1303 ~ 1381), the founder of the mountain, is the twenty-first generation of Linji zhenzhuan. In 1364, monk Wanfeng received Qianxi, a monk who had sailed from Korea to the mainland, and taught him carefully. After Qian Xi got the Dharma and returned to his country, it was widely spread and introduced to Japan by Japanese monks such as Rong Xi and Bian yuan.

Temple relics

There are three giant cypresses in front of Daxiong hall. They are more than 1800 years old. The thickest one is 5.2 meters around the waist. They are tall and straight. They are living fossils. The stele of Song Feng Shui Yue written by Emperor Kangxi and a poem stele of Song Feng Shui Yue written by Emperor Qianlong

The ninth day of the first month is the birthday of emperor Shitian (jade emperor), commonly known as "Tian's birthday". Su city has the custom of "zhaitian". The "zhaitian Dharma Association" of Shengen temple has a long history since the establishment of "Wanshou Daochang" in 1699. Every year, 30000-50000 people come to Shengen temple to attend the "zhaitian" Dharma Association. There are always cars in Guangfu town and people outside Shengen temple. From the eighth day to the tenth day of the first lunar month, it lasted three days and was very lively. On this day, believers, tourists and vendors from all walks of life gather here. It is a holy land of Buddhism. It is a day to preach the wish of praying for blessings and disasters, praying for peace and auspiciousness, and has retained many folk art activities.

After the founding of the people's Republic of China, due to the presence of troops in Xuanmu mountain, Shengen temple was transferred to the custody of the troops, and no temple fair was held in Shengen temple.

Shengen temple covers an area of more than 100 mu, with spacious space. Facing Taihu Lake, the environment is quiet and quiet. There are laymen's law society and fasting. The window of jushilou is expected to see Taihu Lake. Each room has an independent toilet and a public solar bath.

Tourism transportation

After the reform and opening up, Shengen Temple ushered in a new development. It not only restored many ancient buildings, but also restored the temple fair on the ninth day of the first lunar month. The number of tourists on the ninth day of the first month is about 50000.

It takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes to get to Guangfu by bus 64 (4 yuan) from the railway station, or it takes 12-18 minutes to get to Guangfu by bus 43 or 63 from Wuzhong bus station. The ticket price is 5 yuan. The transportation in the town is a motor tricycle with a starting price of 5 yuan. You can take the bus when you get to Guangfu town

652 bus, get off at Bingying (Shengen Temple) station (walk about 200 meters to the temple), the ticket price is 1 yuan. 652 runs every half an hour.

Address: Xuanmu mountain, Guangfu Town, Wuzhong District, Suzhou

Longitude: 120.3851623552

Latitude: 31.273675918579

Ticket information: free.