Kouchi ancient nunnery

Kouchi nunnery locates at back lane of Xiping road. Old name is save living Nunnery (also named Dayin nunnery), first established in Tang dynasty. 《Han River mark》record: “ Kouchi nunnery at the left of South City College, that is resident of Han Changli.” Inside forehead writes: “Clever and great”. Middle is great palace, in front of there are two old banyan, not depend earth, sit front stone to live, black iron color, extremely ancient and delicate, it is said has several hundred years history. Zhou Dunyi say: “Leave self-call like pedant, former path row Buddha Laofei, not know Dadian is who, several book is treasure even more leave clothes.

It is said January of year 819, Han Yu peeve Xianzong emperor due to greet Buddha bone, demoted to Chaozhou. When the day he reach Chaozhou, official and all common people come to welcome him. Han Yu see the people is so warm, he is very excited, suddenly one monk come to his horse, that monk is handsome and face square and forehead broad, portly see from distance, but make people afraid when come near. Because he has two out teeth, like savage arhat, Han Yu is not very happy, but as official if so anger will decrease his degree, so he bear it, think in his heart: “This person must be a bad monk. If he fools common people, must take out his teeth.” Reach procurator mansion, Han Yu catechize things about monk, know he is great monk of Save Living nunnery, full of merits and virtues. (Some saying is Dadian monk is abbot of Lingshan temple, manage save nunnery and Lingshan temple). Morrow, Han Yu just deal with affairs, assistant submit a small big of things, said it is given by Dadian monk. Han Yu open it, it is two big teeth, another is initiate word, word style is elegant, this word means Han Yu perorate to a people depend on his appearance, Han Yu deeply guilty and say: “I treat unjusty a good person, it is wrong” So he write “Kouchi nunnery”, order people deliver to Save living Nunnery, but Dadian monk already head for Lingshan temple”.
Since then Jisheng nunnery renamed “Kouchi nunnery”.

Afterward Han Yu writes to Da Dian several times and visit each other, produce deep affection. Several months later, Han Yu appointed in Yuanzhou, when leaving, go to Lingshan Temple to have a farewell talk with Da Dian, and present clothes to express his affection to part. Da Dian specially established “Leave clothes kiosk” to show yearn.