Sanyuan Palace Haining Zen Temple is located in the center of the national 5A-level tourist attraction Lianyungang Huaguoshan Scenic Area building complex. It was built in the Tang Dynasty, rebuilt in the Song Dynasty, and was granted and expanded in the Ming Dynasty. It was repaired many times in the Qing Dynasty. It was bombed by the Japanese invaders in 1938 and burned down during the Sushan Mountain the following year. Since the 1970s, it has been gradually restored according to the architectural style of the illuminated dynasty. Today's Haining Zen Temple has towering ancient trees and majestic buildings.
There is a quiet courtyard on the north side of the bell tower, free-to-sky courtyard. The plaque "Zizai Tian" above the lintel is written by Master Xincheng, the vice president of the Chinese Buddhist Association, the president of the Jiangsu Buddhist Association, and the abbot of the Jinshan Jiangtian Temple in Zhenjiang.
Go up further, we come to the Sanyuan Palace Mountain Gate. According to the "Su Shen Ji", Chen Guangrui, a native of the East China Sea, gave birth to three sons, became a Taoist and became immortal, and was in charge of the three realms of heaven, earth and water. Later, he was named the Three Yuan Emperor by heaven, also known as the Three Official Emperor.
Sanyuan Palace was originally a Taoist temple, and its religious attributes gradually became blurred. In the 30th year of Wanli in the Ming Dynasty (1601), Emperor Shenzong issued an imperial edict to grant scriptures, and the edict stated that "Imperial Instructions of Haining Temple" was named after it, and the Sanyuan Palace also changed from a Taoist blessed land to a Buddhist temple. But 20 years later (1621), Emperor Tianqi still issued a handwritten book "Imperially granted the Sanyuan Palace to protect the country", which was made into a plaque and placed on the mountain gate of the Sanyuan Palace.
"A Journey to the West has not yet come out of this mountain; the Tripitaka East is not what the novel says." This couplet on the mountain gate is a true portrayal of the relationship between "Journey to the West" and Huaguo Mountain, one of the four classical novels in China. It is written by Elder Mengchu.
Ksitigarbha Hall is one of the important halls in Buddhist temples. The hall enshrined in Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva . Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva is one of the four great bodhisattvas in Chinese Buddhism (including Manjushri Bodhisattva, Guanyin Bodhisattva, and Samantabhadra Bodhisattva ). It is named because of its "being patient and unmoving, like the earth, deep and deep meditation, like a secret treasure".
July 15th is the birthday of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, and July 30th is the day of his enlightenment. During these two days each year, a large number of believers go to worship Jiuhua Mountain (in Chizhou City, Anhui Province) or eat incense at the Ksitigarbha Hall in the local temple.
Heavenly King Hall, which enshrines Maitreya Bodhisattva, Weituo Bodhisattva, and the four great heavenly kings.
Three Official Halls, offering the three officials of heaven, earth and water. The Three Officials Emperors are the three gods respected by Taoism (the only local religious belief in China).
Hidden Hall is a place where Buddhist temples receive pilgrims and monks from coming and going. The person in charge is called "Zhike". In addition, the living room is also a temple's daily affairs management center.
In front of Weituo Hall, there are two thousand-year-old ginkgo trees. After experiencing wind, rain and war, the old trees are still fresh and the branches and leaves are lush. It can be said that the ancient trees are towering and fruitful.
There is also a ten thousand-year treasure tripod in front of the ginkgo tree, with the "Brief Record of the Reconstruction of the Sanyuan Palace" on it, which records that the People's Government of Jiangsu Province and Lianyungang Municipal People's Government rebuilt Sanyuan Palace in five years since April 1980.
The Great Hall is the core building of the Zen temple and a place where monks practice day and night. In Buddhist temples, the Main Hall is the main hall, sometimes also called the main hall.
The temple worships Amitabha Buddha in the Western Paradise, Namo’s master Shakyamuni Buddha, Namo’s disaster relief prolong life Medicine Buddha. From the back of the Main Hall to get to the scenic spot of Huaguo Mountain Shuilian Cave.
