Tianning Temple in Changzhou was built in the Zhenguan and Yonghui years of the Tang Dynasty, that is, 627-655 AD. It is one of the key Buddhist temples in China, a cultural relic protection unit in Jiangsu Province, and is known as the first jungle in Southeast China. Together with Jinshan Temple in Zhenjiang, Gaoyun Temple in Yangzhou and tiantong temple in Ningbo, it is called the four jungles of Zen in China. Basic introduction Chinese name: Tianning Temple Foreign name: Tianning Temple Location: No.1 Luohan Road, Tianning District, Changzhou City, Jiangsu Province Climate type: Subtropical monsoon climate covers an area of about 11 mu. Opening hours: 8: 3 am-17: pm Scenic spot level: AAAA level ticket price: 8. yuan (including Tianning, Temple, Tianning Pagoda) Famous scenic spots: China's First Buddha Pagoda, Ursa Major Hall, Pu Xian Hall, etc. Suitable for playing season: all seasons. Country: China City: Changzhou City, Jiangsu Province Suggested playing time: 2-3 hours required reading before departure, scenic spot dynamics, scenic spot introduction, key information, scenic spots, main attractions, food characteristics, traffic information, astronomical instruments, festivals, and honors won. The total construction area is 27, square meters, and the tower is 13 stories high and 153.79 meters, which is the highest among more than 4, pagodas in China. From the underground palace to the bell tower on the top floor, the whole pagoda takes Buddhist culture as the main line, and uses manual arts such as Dongyang woodcarving, Yangzhou lacquerware, Changzhou disorderly needle embroidery and Hui 'an stone carving as the means of expression, which skillfully interprets many teachings of Mahayana Buddhism. The completion of the stupa echoes with Yungang Buddha in the north, Longmen Buddha in the central plains, Leshan Buddha in the west, Lingshan Buddha in the east and Tiantan Buddha in Hong Kong in the south, and becomes the Buddha's heart of five buddhas. Tianning Pagoda adopts the style of Tang and Song pagodas in appearance: octagonal cornices, dignified shape, simple and rough, magnificent momentum; The decoration of the tower body also attacks the architectural style of Tang and Song Dynasties along Tianning Temple: luxurious but not complicated, concise and atmospheric. Although there is no beauty of carving beams and painting buildings, it has antique charm and reveals a solemn atmosphere. Since the foundation stone was laid in April 22, Tianning Pagoda has used 65 tons of steel to prop up the tower skeleton. The steel structure of the pagoda was capped at the end of 23. After precise measurement, the verticality error between the top and bottom of the pagoda is less than 1 cm. Such accuracy won the first prize for Tianning Pagoda: the gold medal issued by the National Steel Structure Association in 24. The pillars, railings, ceilings, stairs, handrails and doorsill of Tianning Pagoda are all made of nanmu, and the consumption has reached 5 cubic meters. These nanmu trees come from the deep forests of Myanmar and Papua New Guinea, and they are all raw materials with a diameter of 1 meter and a length of 9 meters and 6 meters respectively. Among them, there are 6 to 72 nanmu columns in each floor, and the total number of nanmu columns in 13 floors is more than 1 cubic meters. On the attached floor of the first floor, the cornices extending more than 8 meters outside the tower are all made of nanmu. Only this floor, the timber of nanmu is 13 cubic meters. Among the 1 tons of bronze ornaments carried by Tianning Pagoda, the most eye-catching one is the King Kong throne-shaped pagoda at the top of the tower. This pagoda brake consists of lotus platform, elephant wheel, drum seat, flame plate, etc., and is cast from 75 tons of brass. Considering the difficulty of installation, the whole tower brake was cast into five sections respectively, and then nested one by one. The excellent process of casting and splicing made the whole tower brake seamless. On the eaves of pagodas, 5, bronze inscription tiles were covered with * *, and the bottom was a strip-shaped bronze bottom tile. The inscription on the tile was inspired by the inscription on the ancient bronze ware. This innovative design won the national patent for the bronze inscription tile. In addition, the rafters on the roof, the watchboard and the arch on the eaves are all decorated with copper, and the arch that is no longer load-bearing is covered with copper bags, while the shape and size of the bucket and arch are completely in accordance with the ancient building rules. Among the existing Tallinns in China, the most famous is the Tallinn in Shaolin Temple. The newly-built Tianning Pagoda will be surrounded by 1, jade pagodas and pagodas carved with white marble on the 6-story fence at the base of the pagoda, forming a grand occasion of "gathering together like a forest" with Tianning Pagoda. Each pagoda is 65cm high, and its pedestal is 1.75m high. It is made of "Oriental White" jade from Ya 'an, Sichuan, and carefully carved by folk artists from Hui 'an, Fujian, a famous carving town in the north and south of China, and Quyang, Hebei. Among the 1, jade pagodas, 1, jade side plates are gathered into a Buddhist scripture forest. The scriptures in the forest will be written by 5 eminent monks at home and abroad. Up to now, more than 2 scriptures written by eminent monks have been collected. On the clock floor at the top of the 13th floor of the pagoda, a 15-ton clock is hung. It takes several people to encircle the bell, the wall of the bell is as thick as a blue brick, and the column that rings the bell is thicker than the mouth of the bowl. It takes several people to work together. The bell is far away and the gospel is widely spread. Although this big clock is not the largest, its hanging height of 118 meters is enough to make it the tallest clock. "Gao Zhong is the first" and the eight characters inscribed by abbot Matsumura of Tianning Temple are located on the north and south walls respectively. The other six walls are a complete volume of the Diamond Sutra, with 8, 8-cm-square characters, engraved on the Millennium camphor wood, vigorous and simple, in one go. On the four inner walls of the first high bell, there are four Yangzhou lacquer paintings which are exquisitely carved, full of gold, magnificent and solemn. These four large-scale gold lacquer murals, such as Hua Yan Dafa and Fa Hua Miao Dian, which are really attached to Tianning Pagoda in the south of the Yangtze River, are the disgusting works of celebrities of arts and crafts in Jiangsu Province, such as Lv Yonglin and Yang Zhongbao, and it is also the first time that Yangzhou lacquer painting has entered Buddhism. The 13th floor of the pagoda shows the Buddha Sakyamuni's lecture and the grand spectacle of various Buddhist immortals gathering in Lingshan. Interpretation of this scene is the five directions and five buddhas and four walls. The five directions and five buddhas are enshrined in five directions in the east, west, north and south respectively. In the center is a rock crystal Buddha, which can be regarded as the treasure of the town tower. This transparent ancient Buddha statue of Sakyamuni originated in India in the 16th century and wandered in Europe in the last century. In 23, Gao Peizhi, a lover of China, welcomed it back to China and donated it to Tianning Pagoda. The other four jade buddhas will be carved with white, ink, blue and red jade from Hetian jade and Kunlun jade in Xinjiang. Five Dhyani Buddhas shows the scene of Buddha's lecture, while the four walls show the grand momentum of ten thousand buddhas' pilgrimage. Each wall is 6 meters high and 2.4 meters high, and the carving technology is the best Dongyang woodcarving in China. More than a dozen Dongyang folk carving masters will show 5-6 figures with different expressions and various scenes on teak in eight months with a positive engraving process protruding more than 1 centimeters. Stepping into Tianning Pagoda Taki Square, looking up, it is a large plaque of "Dragon City Elephant Religion" hanging between the first and second floors of the pagoda, which is 5 meters high and 2 meters long. At the four corners of the tower base, the four kings, which are 5.3 meters high and made of all copper, are tall and majestic, and their swords, pipa, umbrella and dragon are four "magic weapons", which imply the prayer for "good weather". On both sides of each statue of the heavenly king, eight bronze elephants were placed, each of which was 3.2 meters high and 5 meters long. Two other Kowloon columns, 19.8 meters high and 3 meters in diameter, stand on both sides of the pagoda. The Kowloon columns are carved from granite and weigh more than 2 tons. The gathering of dragons and elephants in the square should also be called "Dragon City Elephant Education". In addition, there are two incense burners 5 meters long, 1.8 meters wide and 2.8 meters high in the square, which are by far the largest incense burners in China. The four characters of "Dragon City Elephant Religion" on the zhaobi opposite the gate of Zhaobi were inscribed by hand when Ganlong Liuxia Jiangnan came to Tianning Temple for the third time. "Dragon City" is another name for Changzhou, and "Elephantism" refers to Buddhism. When the Buddha Sakyamuni ascended to heaven, his disciples carved siddhattha gotama on wood in order to remember the Buddha and spread Buddhism, and educated monks and good men and women in the image of Buddha. Emperor Qianlong affirmed the strict laws and regulations of Tianning Temple, which is a famous Buddhist Zen Dojo in the southeast coast. The inscription contains the meaning of praise and praise, praising Tianning Temple as a pure land in Changzhou. The Guanyin with thousands of hands and eyes in Tianning Temple stepped into the gate. The first thing that caught our eye was the Guanyin with thousands of hands and eyes standing on the lotus seat. It is 4 meters high, all carved with camphor wood and covered with gold foil. This layout is rare in other monasteries. Why do you want to mold this "four-sided Guanyin" in the Shanmen Temple? Guanyin is especially loved because she treats everyone equally, regardless of rank, and because she is merciful and compassionate, and she is responsive to the needs of the people. Sacrifice her here, so that people can see him from the front, back, left and right, so as to be happy and pray for auspicious wishes. Tianwang Dian Now we have come to the "Tianwang Dian", and there are only a handful of such large Tianwang Dian in China. It is more than 23 meters high and covers an area of 79 square meters. The giant plaque "The Temple of the King" under the eaves was written by Zhao Puchu, a famous calligrapher and former vice chairman of Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. There is also a brick carving of "The Unique Method" above, which was edited by the Imperial Academy in Qing Dynasty and written by Feng Guifen, a pioneer of Westernization School in late Qing Dynasty and a calligrapher in Wuxian County. The statue of Maitreya, who entered the Temple of the King of Heaven, was bared his chest and abdomen, with a charming smile, which made people feel kind and cheerful. Look at the Wei Tuo Bodhisattva behind this temple. The weapon in his hand is called the Devil-dropping pestle, also called the Bao-pestle, which faces the Hall of the Great Hero. He is the guardian of the temple. The four huge colorful statues on both sides of this temple are the four heavenly kings who protect Buddhism, commonly known as the Four donkey kong. The four statues of the heavenly kings here are known for their tall and majestic looks. Each statue is 7.8 meters high, and together with the altar, it is 9.1 meters high, which is rare among similar statues in domestic temples. Luohan brick carved through the "Tian"-shaped courtyard, and now we come to the front of Daxiong Hall. Please look at the walls on both sides. There are 518 arhats carved in brick. Its lines are smooth, its expression is pleasing, its knife technique is meticulous and its composition is extraordinary. It was first carved in the third year of Qing Jiaqing (1798). The five hundred arhats that we saw in Luohantang just now were modeled after the rubbings of the blue bricks on the two side walls. During the ten years of turmoil, people covered this classical treasure with lime, and it has been completely preserved until now. The sundial, two stone tablets integrating astronomical science, archaeological research and practicality, is called "sundial", which measures seasons and time and has a history of more than 18 years. At present, among the existing ancient sundials in China, it is unique to adopt such a shape. The accuracy is quite high, which can be in line with Taipei time. The original two sundials, one of which was destroyed by the Japanese invaders during the Anti-Japanese War, have long been blurred because of its age and wind and rain erosion. These two sundials were carefully surveyed and designed by researchers of Shanghai Observatory in the later period of temple restoration, and were copied as they were in 1991. Daxiong Hall Now the main hall we come to is Daxiong Hall, with nine ridges on the roof, 25.8 meters high, 28 meters deep, 26.4 meters wide and 3 meters high with iron wooden pillars, which is the largest Buddhist hall in the whole temple. The whole hall building has many brick carvings, which is a major feature of Tianning Temple, which is beyond the reach of other temples in the south of the Yangtze River. The front and back ridges of the Hall of the Great Hero are almost all inlaid with brick carvings, and images of various figures, birds and flowers are polished and chiseled with specially customized brick carvings, which are slim and elegant in style and vivid in image. These ornaments are all hollowed out in the middle, which not only reduces the roof load scientifically, but also weakens the wind. The upper end is equipped with "hanging flower basket" and "Gualuo", which reflects the rich and luxurious palace decoration style, and its subtle structure fully reflects the characteristics of brick carving in Jiangnan. Tianning Temple Daxiong Hall Tianning Temple's woodcarving is quaint and magnificent, and it is ingenious. In the temple, there are three giant buddhas with hexagonal "Sumi", also known as "King Kong" and "Lotus". The pedestal in front of these Buddha statues, the glass lamp hanging in the air, the altar of Buddha statues and other large-scale wood carvings form a series, glittering in gold and jade, with extraordinary style, which sets off the sacred atmosphere of clean Buddha land. The sumeru is in the shape of a double waist, with a height of 3 meters and a circumference of 5.2 meters, each with 11 petals. The first layer of big petals is a Buddha, the second layer is an animal, and the third layer is a flower. Judging from the woodcarving of the whole hall, they are exquisitely carved, gorgeous in shape, wide in content and grand in style, which can be called the best of the temples in the south of the Yangtze River, and give people artistic enjoyment with wonderful workmanship. The Jade Buddha Hall passed the Ursa Mahayana Hall and came to the Jade Buddha Hall. This is a rare feature of temples in the south of the Yangtze River. The jade buddhas here were all invited back from Myanmar, a Buddhist country. From March, 199 to December, 1995, Tianning Temple invited 15 jade buddhas from Myanmar, among which one was given to Dalin Temple in Wujin, one to Hoonji in Liyang and one to Chongqing Temple in Wuxi, and there are 12 jade buddhas at present. There are three large reclining statues of jade buddhas in Tianning Temple. The reclining Buddha in front of us is 5.3 meters long and weighs 12 tons, and the other two are 3.8 meters long. Lying Buddha is the image of Buddha when he was 8 years old. This kind of horizontal position is called "auspicious lying". The recumbent statue is exquisitely carved, with a quiet and kind face, eyes slightly closed, calm and comfortable, and there is no feeling of pain. The art reproduces the expression of Sakyamuni Buddha when he entered nirvana. The vegetarian restaurant in Tianning Temple has a historical tradition. Pilgrims from all over the world come here to make pilgrimages to the mountains, and tourists come to visit. They often like to have meals here. First, they entertain relatives and friends and taste the Buddhist tastes while doing Buddhist services, to show their feelings of gathering together and happiness, and also to express their sincere wishes. Secondly, changing tastes, or having a family dinner, or getting together with relatives and friends, is a popular fashion. Especially in the hot summer days, people are tired of being dizzy and greasy, while vegetarian food is mostly bean products, fresh vegetables and fruits, mushrooms, fungus, Nostoc flagelliforme and other rare seaweed, cooked with sesame oil. In addition, the Buddha's land is clean and solemn, and the environment is elegant. It is indeed a pleasure to visit Changzhou Tianning Pagoda, the pearl of the south of the Yangtze River, several times a year to adjust the interest of life and satisfy the curiosity. In order to conform to the economic development, improve the consumption pattern, promote tourism, enrich the food culture, and enhance the income-generating and self-supporting ability of the temple, Tianning Temple resumed the opening of the "Ruyi Su Zhai Pavilion" in 1988. The pavilion is located on the east side of the mountain gate, which not only has the simplicity and solemnity of the temple architecture, but also has the style of modern decoration. A pair of pillars in the pavilion is fascinating: "The golden and magnificent Yaolin Palace, the quiet and clean Zhai, is a pleasant entry; Relax in the blessed land, prolong life, and add meals here. " Lian wrote a title for Qian Xiaoshan, a famous calligrapher and poet of Yi people. The scene was mixed, the antithesis was neat, and the monks and customs were rewarded. It was refreshing to read. The dining room in the museum can be divided and separated, and can accommodate more than 1 people at the same time. Vegetarian food can be divided into palace vegetarian food, folk vegetarian food and Buddhist vegetarian food. Palace vegetarian food was a vegetarian meal when ancient emperors gathered for a feast. Many varieties of modern folk vegetarian dishes and Buddhist vegetarian dishes are among the famous dishes. Most of the chefs here are trained in Shanghai Jade Buddha Temple and Zhenjiang Jinshan Temple vegetarian restaurant, and they can cook more than 4 kinds of traditional Buddhist vegetarian dishes and Changzhou local delicacies. The vegetarian restaurant here has Buddhist colors, such as "Buddha's light shines", with golden chestnuts as the main symbol of Buddha's light. The dish is surrounded by green and tender Chinese cabbage, ochre mushrooms and yellow almonds, which are colorful, soft and delicious at the entrance and fragrant. There are also various dishes such as "Longevity", "Lucky for Wealth", "Congratulations on Getting Rich" and "Harvest of Grains" to celebrate good luck and happiness. The elaborately made ingots, bergamot and peaches are excellent in color, fragrance and shape, and are regarded as exquisite "handicrafts" and deeply loved by Chinese and foreign guests. Special mention should be made here of Wuta cuisine, a traditional product of Changzhou. Because its leaves are like money, and its plants are green and full of vitality, it is used to calling it "money dish" to make the four seasons smooth and auspicious.