Chongfa Temple (Chinese: 崇法寺; pinyin: Chongfa Sì) is a former Buddhist temple located within the Renmin Park, in Tianning District of Changzhou, Jiangsu, China.[1]

Chongfa Temple
崇法寺
The Mahavira Hall of Chongfa Temple.
Religion
AffiliationBuddhism
SectChan Buddhism
Location
LocationRenmin Park, Tianning District, Changzhou, Jiangsu
CountryChina
Chongfa Temple is located in Jiangsu
Chongfa Temple
Shown within Jiangsu
Geographic coordinates31°46′56″N 119°57′51″E / 31.782304°N 119.964136°E / 31.782304; 119.964136
Architecture
StyleChinese architecture
FounderChen Gaoren
Date establishedSui dynasty (581–619)
CompletedGuangxu period (1875–1908; reconstruction)

History

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The temple traces its origins to a vegetable garden, founded by Chen Gaoren (陈杲仁) in the Sui dynasty (581–619) and would later become a Buddhist temple.[2] In the Baoda period (943–957) of the Southern Tang dynasty (937–976), it was known as "Dasheng Temple" (大圣院; 'Temple of Great Sage'). It was renamed "Sengqie Temple" (僧伽院; 'Temple of Monks') at the dawn of Northern Song dynasty. In 1125, Huizong Emperor honored the name "Chongfa Chan Temple" (崇法禅寺). In the reign of Hongwu Emperor (1368–1398) of the Ming dynasty (1368–1644), its name was changed to "Chongfa Buddhist Temple" (崇法教寺). Because the southeast corner of the temple had a bell tower, it was also more commonly known as "Bell Tower Temple". The temple was devastated by the Taiping Rebellion during the ruling of Xianfeng Emperor (1850–1861) in late Qing dynasty (1644–1911), and was restored and rebuilt in Guangxu period (1875–1908).[3]

After the establishment of the Communist State, the wing-room was demolished, only the Mahavira Hall survived. In December 1987, it was designated as a "Municipality Protected Historic Site" by Changzhou government.

Architecture

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The Mahavira Hall is three rooms wide with single-eave gable and hip roof. A stone inscription named "On the Reconstruction of Bell Tower in Chongfa Temple" (崇法寺重建钟楼碑记) which was made in 1827 are embedded in the west wall. Now it is used as a teahouse.

References

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  1. ^ Wang Qigan(王其淦); Wu Kangshou (吴康寿) (1991). 光绪武进阳湖县志·卷二十九·杂事·寺观 [Yanghu County Annuals] (in Chinese). Suzhou, Jiangsu: Jiangsu Ancient Book Publishing House. ISBN 9787805192512. 崇法寺在忠义祠东南,唐保大间建,明洪武二年重建,万历十三年知府王三锡重修,二十九年知县晏文辉重修,三十二年重修。国朝道光间重修,同治光绪间重建。
  2. ^ 【品读常州】崇法寺的历史变迁. Sohu (in Chinese). 30 January 2019. Retrieved 17 October 2019.
  3. ^ 崇法寺常州江苏寺院. fjdh.cn (in Chinese). 24 April 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2019.