Night Tour in Chengtian Temple is an essay written by Su Shi, a writer in Song Dynasty. The article gives a wonderful description of the moonlit scenery, which truly records a fragment of the author's life in Huangzhou, and also reflects the author's deep friendship with Zhang Huaimin and his infinite feelings for a few bosom friends.
At the same time, he expressed his frustration and self-mockery, indicating his optimistic attitude towards life. The full text is sincere and concise, starting at the right time and ending at the right place, like flowing water, in one go.
Knowledge expansion:
Chengtian Temple, located in the center of Quanzhou, Fujian Province, is an ancient temple with a long history. According to historical records, Chengtian Temple was founded in the Tang Dynasty and is one of the earliest Buddhist temples in Quanzhou. In the long years, although it has been repaired many times, it still retains the architectural style and layout of the Tang Dynasty.
When you enter Chengtian Temple, the first thing you see is a tall mountain gate. The gate is inlaid with the four characters "Chengtiandian", which looks solemn. The stone lions on both sides of the mountain gate are magnificent, as if guarding this ancient temple.
Entering the mountain gate, there is the Hall of Heroes. Siddhartha Gautama is enshrined in the Hall of Heroes, and the tall Buddha statue is shocking. On both sides of the main hall are eighteen arhats with different shapes and vivid images. There are also Buddhist murals painted on the wall of the main hall, which are rich in content and meticulous in painting, showing the charm of ancient Buddhist art.
The architecture of Chengtian Temple is not limited to the Ursa Major Hall, but also many other buildings. One of the most famous is Chengtian Temple Tower. Built in the Song Dynasty, this tower is one of the oldest in Fujian Province. The tower is more than 60 meters high and divided into seven floors, each with its own unique style and characteristics. Climbing to the top of the tower overlooks the beautiful scenery of Quanzhou, which makes people feel relaxed and happy.
There are many other scenic spots in Chengtian Temple, such as bell tower, drum tower and monk's room. One of the most noteworthy is the "Stone Buddha Ancient Temple". This is a Tang Dynasty grotto with several stone buddhas, each with a different shape and solemn expression. These stone Buddha statues are not only the treasures of Chengtian Temple, but also the cultural heritage of Fujian Province.
Visitors can not only appreciate the architecture and Buddhist art of Chengtian Temple, but also feel the strong Buddhist cultural atmosphere. In the corridors of temples, paintings and texts of Buddhist teachings can be seen everywhere, which gives visitors a deeper understanding of Buddhist culture.
In a word, Chengtian Temple is an ancient temple integrating history, culture, art and Buddhist culture.