Jiangxin Temple
Jiangxin Temple () is a Buddhist temple located on Jiangxin Island, in Lucheng District of Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China. History. Tang dynasty. The temple was first built with the name of "Puji Chan Temple" () in 866, in the reign of Emperor Yizong (860–874) of the Tang dynasty (618–907). It was renamed "Longxiang Chan Temple" () in 1131, in the Shaoxing period (1127–1162) of Southern Song dynasty (1127–1279). Because the temple situated in the middle of the Ou River, it more commonly known as the "Jiangxin Temple" (; "Jiang" means river and "Xin" means middle). Song dynasty. In 969, under the rule of  Emperor Taizu (960–976) of the Northern Song dynasty (960–1127), the Jingxin Jiangyuan () was erected in its east. People's Republic of China. After the founding of the Communist State, local government renovated and refurbished the temple. Jiangxin Temple has been inscribed as a National Key Buddhist Temple in Han Chinese Area by the State Council of China in 1983. The temple has been designated as a provincial level cultural heritage by the Zhejiang Provincial Government in 2011. Architecture. Now the existing main buildings include Shanmen, Heavenly Kings Hall, Mahavira Hall, Yuantong Hall, Hall of Three Saints, East Pagoda, and West  Pagoda. Yuantong Hall. In the center of the Yuantong Hall () enshrines the statue of Guanyin with Shancai standing on the left and Longnü on the right. Statue of Maitreya is enshrined at the back of Guanyin's statue. Under the eaves is a plaque with the Chinese characters "Yuantong Hall" written by Qianlong Emperor (1736–1795) in the Qing dynasty (1644–1911). Hall of Three Saints. The Hall of Three Saints enshrining the statues of Three Sages of the West (), namely Guanyin, Amitabha and Mahasthamaprapta. East Pagoda. The East Pagoda was originally built in 869 or 969 and rebuilt in the following  dynasties many times. Hexagon in shape, it has seven stories with the height of . The pagoda originally had rafters and corridors, in 1894, the British government established the British Consulate in Wenzhou near the pagoda, and forced local government to demolish the rafters and corridors. West Pagoda. The West Pagoda was first built in 869 or 969 and underwent three largely renovations, respectively in the ruling of Hongwu Emperor (1368–1398) in the Ming dynasty (1368–1644), in the reign of Wanli Emperor (1573–1620) and in the Qianlong period (1736–1796) of the Qing dynasty (1644–1911). The seventh storeys, tall, Hexagonal-based Chinese  pagoda is made of brick and stone. A total of 16 statues of Buddha are carved in the body of the pagoda. Culture. The East Pagoda has appeared in the Japanese manga "One Piece".