Linggu Temple, situated on the southeastern slopes of Purple Mountain in
Nanjing, is an ancient and historically significant site originally founded in
515 CE during the Liang Dynasty.
While it began as a major center for Buddhist study and seclusion, the temple
was relocated to its present site in the 14th century by the Ming Dynasty's
Hongwu Emperor to accommodate imperial tombs. Over the centuries, the complex
has evolved, serving not only as a religious sanctuary for Buddhist
practitioners but also as a site of profound national commemoration,
particularly during the Republican era when it was integrated with memorials
for soldiers who lost their lives in the Northern Expedition.
The temple complex is renowned for its architectural marvels and serene
landscape, most notably the Wuliang Hall, or "Beamless Hall." Constructed in
1381, this structure is a testament to ancient engineering, as it was built
entirely of brick and stone without the use of a single wooden beam, pillar,
or nail. Complementing the historic architecture is the 60-meter-tall Linggu
Pagoda, a 20th-century monument built to honor fallen soldiers. Surrounded by
dense, tranquil forests, the scenic area also houses the Xuanzang Memorial
Hall, which enshrines relics of the famed Tang Dynasty monk, making the site a
unique intersection of spiritual heritage and modern history.
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Linggu Scenic Area Information
«Linggu Scenic Area is located at the eastern slope of Zhongshan
Mountain and covers an area of over 130 hectares. It gathers numerous
historical sites of the Six Dynasties (229-589). Kaishan Temple, firstly
built in 515, was moved here by Zhu Yuanzhang when building his Xiaoling
Tomb and renamed as Linggu Temple, which enjoyed the prestige as “the
No.1 Buddhist Temple under Heaven". The scene of Dense Pines in Linggu
Valley was listed among the 48 top scenic spots of Nanjing in the Qing
Dynasty.
Today, major attractions in the park include Beamless Hall, the
renovated Linggu Temple, Linggu Pagoda, Songfeng Pavilion, Baogong
Dagoba and San Jue Tablet. These buildings of different times are
scattered in the luxuriant and secluded forest, adding to the
picturesque natural landscape. In late autumn, when maple leaves turn
red and sweet osmanthus blossoms, the scenery is even more charming.
A garden of thousands of Sweet Osmanthus has been built here. It
contains a 113-hectare specialized division, in which over 18,000
osmanthus are planted.»
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Meeting-the-Emperor Bridge
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Meeting-the-Emperor Bridge
«It is said that in the Qing
Dynasty (1616-1911), when Emperor Qianlong came to visit Linggu Temple
during his southern inspection tour, all the monks waited along the
bridge to meet him, hence resulting in the name Meeting-the-Emperor
Bridge.»
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Wangong Pond
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Wangong Pond
«Wangong (meaning “ten thousand workers") Pond
is located at the south of the Hongshan Gate. In the early Ming Dynasty
(1368-1644), Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang inspected Linggu Temple when it was
still under construction. Seeing the space was void and humdrum in front
of the temple, he ordered ten thousand workers (soldiers and civilians)
to dig this pond out in one single day, thus leading to such a name.»
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"Linggu Chanlin" Inscribed by the Kangxi Emperor
"Linggu Chanlin" Inscribed by the Kangxi Emperor
«In the
13th year of the Tianjian era (514) of the Liang Dynasty (as part of the
Southern Dynasties), the eminent monk Baozhi passed away and was buried
at Dulongfu (Single Dragon Mound) on Zhongshan Mountain. Emperor Wu of
Liang (Xiao Yan) established the Kaishan Temple in his honor. When
Emperor Taizu of the Ming Dynasty (Zhu Yuanzhang) constructed the Ming
Tomb, he relocated the Kaishan Temple eastward and founded the Linggu
Temple, personally bestowing upon it the title "First Zen Monastery".
The Kangxi Emperor of the Qing Dynasty (personal name Xuanye) visited
the Linggu Temple multiple times during his six southern inspection
tours, in addition to paying homage to the Ming Tomb. In the 38th year
of his reign (1699), during his third southern inspection tour, the
emperor personally visited the Ming Tomb and inscribed the four
characters "zhilong Tang-Song" (the Great Ming Dynasty was governed to a
level of prosperity even greater than that of the Tang and Song
dynasties). He ordered Cao Yin (grandfather of Cao Xueqin),
superintendent of the Imperial Textile Factory at Jiangning (present-day
Nanjing), to craft a plaque and engrave a stele, while also overseeing
repairs to the Ming Tomb. In the 46th year of Kangxi's reign (1707),
during his sixth southern inspection tour, the emperor visited the
Linggu Temple. Deeply moved by its lush serenity, solemn tranquility,
and majestic ambiance, he inscribed a couplet: "Celestial fragrances
drift through the grand halls; Mountain mists linger in the open
corridors", and bestowed the plaque "Linggu Chanlin” (Zen Monastery in
Spirit Valley). Today, to perpetuate the cultural legacy of Zhongshan
Mountain, the stele bearing "Linggu Chanlin" which features the imperial
calligraphy of the Kangxi Emperor, has been erected here. It stands
facing the "zhilong Tang-Song" stele from east to west, the two
monuments shining as twin treasures of the mountain.»
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Red Mountain Gate
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Red Mountain Gate
The Hongshan Gate, often referred to as
the Red Mountain Gate, serves as the majestic formal entrance to the
Linggu Temple scenic area in Nanjing.
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This architectural structure acts as a grand transition point,
separating the bustling modern world from the tranquil, forested
slopes of Purple Mountain. Its prominent red facade and traditional
design are intended to instill a sense of reverence and anticipation
in visitors, signaling that they are crossing into a space defined by
history, reflection, and spiritual contemplation.
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Beyond its function as a gateway, the site holds deep symbolic and
spiritual significance as the threshold to one of China’s most sacred
Buddhist landscapes. In the context of the temple’s long history, the
gate represents the shedding of worldly distractions before entering
the grounds that house relics of esteemed monks and monuments to
national sacrifice. It marks the start of a pilgrimage—whether
religious or secular—inviting travelers to leave the ordinary behind
and align themselves with the profound sense of peace and historical
continuity that defines the Linggu complex.
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Stone Lionas
The two stone lions guarding the entrance to
the Hongshan Gate are classic examples of Chinese imperial guardian
lions, known as shishi.
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Positioned symmetrically, the male lion typically rests his right paw
upon a decorative orb, which symbolizes power, authority, and control
over the world, while the female lion rests her left paw upon a
playful cub, representing life, legacy, and the nurturing of the
community. These statues are masterfully carved with intricate
details, showcasing the protective role these mythical creatures are
meant to play as they stand watch over the sacred space of the temple.
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Beyond their aesthetic appeal, the lions carry profound spiritual
weight, acting as metaphysical guardians that ward off negative energy
and malevolent spirits. In Buddhist tradition, the lion is regarded as
a noble protector of the Dharma, representing strength, courage, and
the royal lineage of the Buddha. By flanking the entrance, they serve
as a spiritual boundary, ensuring that only those with a respectful
and focused intent pass into the temple grounds. Their presence
reinforces the sanctity of Linggu Temple, grounding the gateway in a
tradition that seeks to harmonize the physical architecture with the
protective forces of the divine.
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The Cemetery for the KIAs of the National Revolutionary Army
«The cemetery was established on the site of Linggu Temple in
1935. Those buried in this cemetery are mainly officers and soldiers
killed in the Northern Expedition or the Anti-Japanese Battle in
Shanghai. The main buildings include the front gate (Hongshan Gate), the
memorial archway, the sacrificial hall (Beamless Hall), the memorial
hall (Pine-wind Pavilion) and the cenotaph (Linggu Pagoda).»
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Memorial Archway of the Cemetery for the KIAs
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The Memorial Archway of the Cemetery for the KIAs
«The
archway is marked by reinforced concrete on a lofty platform above 42
stone steps. The 10-meter-high and five-arch building is roofed with
green glazed tiles, full of power and grandeur. On the tablets of the
archway there are eight characters meaning "Benevolence and
righteousness" and "Salvaging the nation and the people", which were
written by Zhang Jingjiang, one of the senior members of Kuomintang. In
front of the archway there is a pair of stone tiger, each standing on
one side. They were donated by the Seventeenth Army when the archway was
built.»
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Stone Tortoise
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The Stone Tortoise
«The Stone Tortoise is 5.3 meters long,
2.5 meters wide and 2 meters high. It looks majestic as it lifts its
head and stretches its neck. Under the tortoise is a stone
Xumizuo which is 5.9 meters in length, 3.6 meters in width and
0.37 meters in height. The reason for the construction of this stone
tortoise is still unknown to us yet. As studied by experts, it probably
has something to do with Linggu Temple of the Ming Dynasty.
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Beamless Hall
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The Beamless Hall
«The Beamless Hall is the only survivor
from the Ming Dynasty in Linggu Temple area. It was once called "Hall of
Boundless Life" because it was built to worship the Amitabha Buddha,
whose name means "Boundless life". The brick-vault structure was built
without a single piece of wood or beam, hence resulting in its current
name. When the KMT government had a cemetery built here for the KIAs in
1931, it was changed into a hall for public sacrifice.»
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Entering the Beamless Hall
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Interior of the Beamless Hall
The interior of the Beamless
Hall is a breathtaking architectural feat, characterized by its vaulted
ceilings and thick brick walls that achieve grandeur without the use of
a single wooden beam, pillar, or nail.
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The vast, cavernous space creates a profound sense of scale and
permanence, emphasizing the durability and ingenuity of Ming Dynasty
construction techniques. Light filters through arched windows,
illuminating the intricate brickwork and the solemn, hollow depth of
the hall, which fosters an atmosphere of quiet reflection, distinct
from the ornate, pillar-laden interiors of more traditional Buddhist
wooden structures.
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Spiritually and symbolically, the hall has transformed from its
original purpose as a Buddhist prayer space into a place of national
reverence. The presence of the informational plaque, "Memorial tablets
of martyrs of the National Revolution," anchors the hall to the memory
of the soldiers who gave their lives during the Northern Expedition.
By housing these memorials within a structure built to endure for
eternity, the hall serves as a bridge between the physical sacrifice
of the past and the lasting spiritual peace of the temple. It
encourages visitors to view the site as a sanctuary where the weight
of historical sacrifice meets a silent, architectural transcendence,
inviting a meditative appreciation for both the nation's history and
the stillness of the surrounding forest.
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Main Burial Site
«With construction commencing in 1931, the
Cemetery for the KIAs of the National Revolutionary Army, located in the
site of Wufang Hall in Linggu Temple, was built in 1935. The KIAs in the
Northern Expedition and the Battle of Shanghai were mainly buried there.
In 1950, the cemetery was renamed Linggu Park, now known as Linggu
Scenic Area. In the scenic area, there is a century-old sweet osmanthus
tree, more than 10 meters tall, which is Osmanthus fragrans
'Boyejingui'. It is a third-class ancient and famous tree, honored as
the King of Osmanthus in Jinling (present-day Nanjing).»
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Vegetarian Restaurant
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Pine Lodge Vegetarian Restaurant
«Pine Lodge Vegetarian
Restaurant dates back to more than 600 years ago in the early Ming
Dynasty. To build the Ming Tomb, Zhu Yuanzhang, founder of the Ming
Dynasty, had Kaishan Temple at Dulongfu (a small hill) moved east to the
place where today's Linggu Temple stands in the 14th year under the
Hongwu Reign (AD1381). A large-scale kitchen named Xiangjichu was built
within Linggu Temple. It was able to offer vegetarian food all the year
round and could accommodate one thousand monks simultaneously at each
meal-time.»
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Pine-wind Pavilion
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Panorama of the south side of the Pine-wind Pavilion
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Northeast corner of the Pine-wind Pavilion
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Pine-wind Pavilion
«This place used to be the Discipline
Hall of Linggu Temple in the Ming Dynasty. When the Kuomintang built the
Cemetery of the KIAs of the National Revolutionary Army in 1931, a
“Memorial Hall of Revolution” was put up here. Designed by Murphy, a
famous American architect, the building was completed in 1933 when
objects left behind by the dead officers and soldiers were on display.
After the founding of the PRC, it was renamed as Pine-wind Pavilion. A
stone tripod at the back of it was a gift from Liu Zhenhua, President of
Anhui Province.»
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Stone Incense Burner
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Stone Incense Burner
The stone incense burner serves as a
monumental ceremonial vessel positioned on the approach to the Linggu
Pagoda.
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Designed in the style of an ancient Chinese ding—a ritual
tripod cauldron—it features ornate lion-head handles, a tiered roof,
and a base decorated with traditional carvings. Its sturdy
construction and placement directly on the central path emphasize its
role as a focal point for the site, creating a deliberate station for
visitors to pause before proceeding toward the pagoda.
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Spiritually, this incense burner functions as a bridge between the
physical and the metaphysical, providing a space for rituals of
purification and remembrance. By offering incense, visitors engage in
a symbolic act of respect that transcends mundane concerns, honoring
the memory of those commemorated at the site. The presence of this
vessel reinforces the solemnity of the Linggu complex, transforming
the act of walking toward the pagoda into a meditative journey of
reflection and national honor.
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Linggu Pagoda
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Linggu Pagoda
«Built in 1931-1933, Linggu Pagoda used to be
the memorial tower in honor of the KIAs of the National Revolutionary
Army. The nine-storeyed pagoda is 60 meters in height with 8 facets on
each storey. The inscription of jingzhong baoguo (meaning "Serving the
nation with utmost loyalty") on the exterior walls of the pagoda was
written by Chiang Kai-shek and on the interior walls of the pagoda was
inscribed with Sun Yat-sen's speeches entitled "A Speech on the opening
ceremony of Huangpu Military School" and "A Farewell speech made before
the northward expedition", which were written respectively by Wu
Jingheng and Yu Youren, two senior members of Kuomintang.»
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Interior of the Linggu Pagoda
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See Also
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