Songlin ancient temple

Locates at the foot of Songlin Mountain, Yixi, Chaozhou. In twenty century seventy ages, when dig east brook, at former temple site, excavated Wei Tuo Bodhisattva stone figure, round stone frusta, carved “Kaishan Huitang monk” is clearly seen, now oblated in temple, so has tap temple people. According to archaeologist textual research, this stone figure, stone frusta is culture relics of Sui and Tang dynasty, can know this temple has a long history. Destroy and repair for lots of times, almost desolate.

After third people’s meeting, religion policy get carry through, property right of this temple return to religion party---Chaozhou Buddhism Association manage and use. Under the lead of city Buddhism Association, crowd responds to subscribe money to repair a small hall and hold religion activity. May of year 1993, Lin Xiyan, Ke Zhirong accompany Hongsheng attend a ceremony in the temple, see Songlin mountain is magnificent, luxuriant forest, fertile field and wild flower and forest is whirling; temple back the mountain; two sides mountain is winding and surround gate, shape like dragon and elephant protect temple; in front of temple horizontal bank protect the base, lake like mirror; look penholder hill, cucurbit hill, gold hill, Han River bank, phoenix city bright, majesty and spectacular, so know Chao celebrity write poem it is really the fact in former days, poem write: “Rest head on Songlin mountain, feet step Huangzhi lake. Left hand pull penholder hill, right hand hold cucurbit hill”. Creditably is key point of interest. So want to enlarge Songlin ancient temple.

So invite famous engineer as collectivity layout design, layout land use totally over 30 are, total building area is over 9,500 square meters. General build layout approximately divide into four parts, middle axes is gate, The Hall of Heavenly Kings, The Shrine of Sakyamuni Buddha, House where sutras are kept; east: east corridor, bell tower, Guest Hall, Dining hall in a Buddhist temple, Monk House, Buddhism culture center building, old-respect house; west: west corridor, Jialan Palace, drum tower, monk house, Putong tower; gate equipped with east and west stone tower, lotus pool, maze, kiosk, torii. Total budget need more than RMB 60,000,000. Through agreement of relevant department, construct by stages. Through several years effort, manpower and fund devote in is very large.

Under the support of relevant lead; sparkplug of Lin Xiyan, Ke Zhirong; summon of Chairman Hong Sheng; corwd warmly respond and total imburse, principal part and partial equipment already finished, already built: Yuantong palace (adopt wood and stone structure, statue in the palace, invite famous craftsman follow Yuantong palace of Puji temple, center oblate Kwan-yin gold body, is 9.68 meters high.

Whole construct is majesty, engrave is delicate, skill of mold is consummate. The statue is different, but kind appearance protruding shows, character expression is natural, lifelike), The Shrine of Sakyamuni Buddha (center palace oblate Sakayamuni figure, Ananzun, Jiaye respect, Weituo, Jialan white marble stone figure. Call one Buddha two respect, two hufa for short; House where sutras are kept; Dichang palace (center oblate Dichang king gold body, two sides oblate ten great king gold body). Jialan palace (center oblate Guan Yu, two sides stand Zhou Lun, Guan Ping gold body), bell tower (hang ten thousand life copper bell, 4,000 kilogram weight), frum-tower, east and west corridor, Guest Hall, Dining hall in a Buddhist temple, Monk House, torii, four Putong tower and tower corridor. Kings of heaven palace is under building and un-build item, plan finish at the end of 2004. Stele and couple hung on the columns of a hall invite famous literator and artist write it, romance religion color and add culture connotation.

Now jungle pattern of the temple already appear. From then on, add a scenery spot for Chaozhou; famous site for in and oversea visitors; site for Buddha activity. Indeed:"“Everyone happy, all Buddhist happy!"