Suzhou Baoen Temple Pagoda has a history of more than 1,700 years. It was built during the Three Kingdoms period. There are too many historical stories, allusions and legends that happened here. It is said to be the oldest in Suzhou City. The temple is very popular and attracts a large number of citizens and tourists. The following is a detailed introduction to the allusions and history of Suzhou Baoen Temple Pagoda.
It has a longer history than Hanshan Temple and is the oldest temple in Suzhou. It was first built in the Chiwu Period of the Three Kingdoms (238-251), more than 1,700 years ago. According to historical records, it was built by Sun Quan for his wet nurse Chen, and it was first called Tongxuan Temple. In the early Tang Dynasty, it was renamed Kaiyuan Temple, and later its name was changed. Baoen Temple.
Compared with the crowds of tourists in Hanshan Temple, Yaya found it by chance. After visiting Pingjiang Road Pedestrian Street, he called a rickshaw and asked him to take him to the nearest one. At the subway entrance, the master took me directly to the Beisita subway entrance. I got off the bus and saw this tall tower, so I decided to go in and take a look at this Beisita, which is not so well-known among tourists in Suzhou.
, which is Baoen Temple, but actually has a very high status in the hearts of Suzhou people. After I came out of Beisi Pagoda, I asked a few friends in Suzhou. They heard that I went to Beisi Pagoda, and they replied, you finally went to Suzhou people. The most popular place in Suzhou is
The name of the Beisi Pagoda is actually Baoen Temple, but most people in Suzhou call it Beisi Pagoda. It is named because it is located in the north of the ancient city of Suzhou, and the most conspicuous one is Baoen Temple. It's this tower. Even the subway station is named after "Beisi Pagoda".
Bao'en Temple was built by Sun Quan, the overlord of the Three Kingdoms, in order to repay his mother's kindness in raising him. It has been built and destroyed several times over the past thousands of years, but it has always remained the same. The highest point in Suzhou City. It stood there in the Southern Dynasties when "there were many towers in the mist and rain", but it was 11 stories high at that time. Unfortunately, it was later burned down. During the Yuanfeng Period of the Northern Song Dynasty (1078-1085), the Baoen Temple Tower was rebuilt into It has 9 floors, but in the fourth year of its construction in the early Southern Song Dynasty (1130), the Baoen Temple Pagoda was once again destroyed by war. In the 23rd year of Shaoxing in the Southern Song Dynasty (1153), the Baoen Temple Pagoda was transformed into a nine-level eight-sided pagoda. In the Ming and Qing Dynasties, the Baoen Temple Pagoda was several
Compared with most attractions in Suzhou, the entrance fee is quite high, such as 70 yuan for the Humble Administrator’s Garden and 60 yuan for Tiger Hill. Baoen Temple is free and open. The order of visiting is to enter through the left gate and then the right. The first thing I saw was a smiling Maitreya Buddha. Maitreya Buddha is also known as the future Buddha. He is often seen with his chest exposed and smiling (or the big-bellied monk is modeled after the Budai monk. This is the role of Buddhism) Expressing education means "great blessings", reminding the world to learn to be tolerant. A big belly can tolerate things that are difficult to tolerate in the world; smile when you open your mouth, and laugh at the ridiculous people in the world. There are more luxurious temples, but this simple layout is quite refreshing.
Behind the Maitreya Buddha is the North Temple Pagoda. Visiting the pagoda is not allowed now. I am a little disappointed, but I can understand it, after all. If you can go up there, it will be even more difficult to protect cultural relics. I heard from local friends in Suzhou that you can overlook the entire Suzhou city when you go up to the tower, with a panoramic view of the magnificent gardens and the charm of the ancient city. I can only think about it. That scene.
After walking around the tower three times and continuing inside, there is a small door to enter called "Plum Garden". I highly recommend you to visit this quiet temple. There is also a small Soviet-style garden hidden there, with rockeries, ponds, pavilions, stone bridges, flowers and trees. I think it is more interesting than the famous large gardens such as the Humble Administrator's Garden and the Lion Grove Garden, and it also has its own uniqueness. The temperament and the lack of tourists add to the poetic feeling.
I was really stunned for a moment. I was so greedy for the beautiful scenery in front of me that I couldn't move at all.
In front of the plum garden is the Nanmu Guanyin Hall, which was rebuilt in the 40th year of Wanli in the Ming Dynasty. It is the most complete ancient Ming Dynasty building in Suzhou. A corridor is built to the south of the Guanyin Hall, displaying the largest giant lacquer sculpture in China, "The Picture of Prosperity and Prosperity", also known as "The Picture of Prosperity of Gusu". The picture is 32 meters long and 2 meters high, recreating the prosperity of Suzhou during the Qianlong Emperor's reign in the Qing Dynasty.
On one side of the Guanyin Hall is a rare Yuan Dynasty stone carving artwork named Zhang Shicheng’s monument. The stele is said to have been installed by Shen Wansan, a wealthy man from Jiangnan in the late Yuan Dynasty. It is engraved with the scene of Zhang Shicheng welcoming Boyan, the envoy of the Yuan Dynasty. It adopts deep relief techniques, has fine carvings, rigorous composition, clear architectural layout, distinct layers, clear faces of the characters, different postures, and smooth pleats. It is a top-notch piece of Yuan Dynasty stone carving art with historical value. It is also rare in China for the last defeated king in history to have such a memorial monument.
There is a Seven Buddha Hall here. There are more than 20,000 temples in China, but it is said that only three are dedicated to the Seven Buddhas. "Seven Buddhas" refers to Sakyamuni Buddha and the six Buddhas who appeared before him, namely Namo Buddha, Namo Buddha, Namo Kassapa Buddha, Namo Sakyamuni Buddha, and Namo Buddha. Kunasamuni Buddha, Namo Visambo Buddha, and Namo Vipassi Buddha.
Finally walking out of the temple through the long corridor, I felt like I was back in the prosperous secular world. Unknowingly, I stayed in Baoen Temple for 2 hours. Only then did I deeply understand why this is the soul of old Suzhou, not only because of the height of the Beisi Pagoda, but also its inner quiet ancient charm. I think this is the most attractive part of the ancient city of Suzhou.
The most "Suzhou" place in the hearts of Suzhou people is the only commanding height in the city. It has a longer history than Hanshan Temple, and there are few tourists. Tickets are free!
Tickets: Free
Transportation: Beisita Subway Station
Recommended visit time: 1-2 hours