Zhengding Linji Temple

Zhengding Linji Temple

Linji temple is located in Zhengding County, Hebei Province, formerly known as Linji courtyard. It was first built in the second year of Xinghe, Emperor Xiaojing of the Eastern Wei Dynasty (540). In 854, Yixuan, a monk, was ordained by the Buddhist master Xiyun of Huangbo. Later, he became the abbot of Linji temple. Linji temple is not only the birthplace of Linji sect of Chinese Buddhism, but also the ancestral court of Linji sect of Japanese Buddhism. Linji temple in Zhengding is the birthplace of Linji sect of Buddhism. It was built in 540, the second year of Xinghe in the Eastern Wei Dynasty. In 854, monk Yixuan founded linjizong here. Because of its steep fan peak, linjizong became famous at home and abroad. Every year, linjizong monks from Asia, Europe, Australia and even North America paid homage to the ancestral court. Therefore, the Zhengding Linji temple is the world's earliest Buddhist Linji sect and the ancestral court of Linji sect in the world. Now the 91 year old abbot Shi Youming is the 45th generation descendant of Linji sect and still lives in Linji temple. Chengling Pagoda in the temple is the relic pagoda of Zen master Yixuan, the founder of Linji sect. It was built in the Tang Dynasty. It is an octagonal nine level Pagoda with dense eaves, 30.47 meters high. The shape of the ancient pagoda is straight and elegant, and the carving is gorgeous. Mr. Liang Sicheng praised it as "clear and beautiful, the top grade in the pagoda". In 2001, chengling pagoda was declared a national treasure.

Formation and development

According to the records of Zhengding County annals, "Linji temple was built in 540, the second year of Xinghe in the Eastern Wei Dynasty, in Linji village, two Li south of the city." In other words, Linji temple was founded in the Eastern Wei Dynasty, earlier than linjizong.

In 854, master Yixuan was the abbot of Linji temple, where he promoted the Zen Linji sect. He put forward the principles and tenets of "three mysteries", "three essentials", "four materials" and "four illuminations". Through the way of question and answer between teachers and apprentices, he understood the depth of each other's understanding, and then he preached and introduced Zen into the world according to the different levels of understanding. Zen style is famous for its "one-sided approach and sharp cutting edge". They often treat students with "stick drinking". This is the origin of the idiom "drinking at the head". Yixuan's Zen was soon recognized by the northern believers. There was an endless stream of people who came to ask the Dharma and seek the Tao. The gate leaf flourished, and formed a major source of Zen. Later generations called it "Linji sect" by the name of the temple, and became the most popular sect among the five major sects of Zen. In 867, Yixuan Zen master passed away. After the remains were cremated, his disciples divided the relic into two pagodas, one of which was built in Daming, Hebei Province, and no longer exists. The other tower is in the Zhengding Linji temple. Yizong of Tang Dynasty granted Yixuan the title of "huizhao Zen master" and "chengling pagoda".

Linji temple was destroyed in the war between Song Dynasty and Jin Dynasty. In 1183, Jin Shizong restored it.

In the Yuan Dynasty, Linji Temple flourished again. Abbot Haiyun presided over the renovation and expansion of the temple, which was magnificent. According to the records of Heshuo's visit to ancient times written by geluonaixian in Yuan Dynasty, "Linji temple is in zhendingfu City, dingyuanmen street, east of feiyunlou. Under the third gate, there are stone carvings such as the statue of the cloth bag monk painted by Wu Daozi of Tang Dynasty, the bell ringing Puhua zhenzan, the ink bamboo of Dongpo, and the poetry of lvjunxuan, which are extremely fine. ". In 1309, Zhao Meng wrote Linji Zhengzong stele, which stood in the temple.

In 1521, Linji temple was rebuilt. At that time, the main buildings in the temple were the mountain gate, the main hall, the chengling pagoda, the ancestral hall and the monk's room. The new stele was written by Wang Bing and written by Guo Xiyu. By the end of Ming Dynasty and the beginning of Qing Dynasty, the temples were deserted.

Emperor Yongzheng of the Qing Dynasty granted "Yixuan, the monk of Linji temple in Zhenzhou of Tang Dynasty, as the Zen master of Zhenchang Huiyou" and set aside money to rebuild the temple. In 1830, Shu Tonga, commander in chief, invested in the reconstruction and moved the ancestral hall to both sides of the main hall, which changed the layout of the hall. During the Anti Japanese War, in addition to the chengling pagoda, there were three ancestral halls and three East Side halls in Linji temple. At the end of 1947, these halls were demolished, and only the chengling pagoda stood alone.

In 1984, Linji temple was handed over to the Buddhist community for management and opened as a place for Buddhist activities. New vitality and vigor appeared in this millennium old temple.

historical origin

Linji sect has a long history, deep roots and luxuriant leaves. Its establishment and development are well documented in Buddhist scriptures, temple steles and the research results of Buddhist scholars. In the inscription on the way of the great master of Xuangong in the ten directions of Zhending, Linji (the stele was "lost" in modern military robbery)!??) At the beginning, he said: "the ancestor of Buddha, from viposhi VII to Sakyamuni, who inherited the Dharma of Sakyamuni, is the first ancestor. It was passed down by Gaye 28 and got Dharma. Dharma to China as the first ancestor, spread to Dajian, Caoxi, the first faction is five. Da Jian passes on Nanyue, Mazu, Baizhang sea, Huangbo and Linji. This Linji a prime minister to teach probably also. It is similar to xugaozengzhuan, wudenghuiyuan and the research results of China Buddhist Culture Research Institute. Linjizong can be traced back to the past when he robbed the body of 998 Buddha, vipo, and seven to the present when he robbed Sakyamuni, the fourth Buddha. Sakyamuni picks flowers in Lingshan mountain, and Gaye smiles. He preaches the true dharma vision, the nirvana mind, and the reality. The subtle Dharma and Gaye are the ancestors of the Western Heaven. Mianyan passed on to dharma as the 28th ancestor. The first ancestor is from Damo to Dongtu, and the sixth ancestor is from Liuchuan to Huineng. The sixth ancestor handed down five generations as Linji Yixuan. Yixuan continued to be benhuan in 44 generations. On October 2, 1990, Youming, the leader of Linji temple in Zhengding, made a special trip to biechuan temple in Danxia Mountain, Guangzhou, and accepted the Dharma scroll and Dharma clothes handed down by master benhuan. He is the successor of 45 generations. Therefore, the Buddha's heart seal handed down by our ancestors is as bright as a lamp, and it will last forever. The pagoda was baptized by many wars in Jin, yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties. During the Anti Japanese War, in addition to the chengling pagoda, there were three ancestral halls and three eastern halls in Linji temple. At the end of 1947, these halls were demolished, and only the chengling pagoda was left alone. In 1984, Linji temple was handed over to the Buddhist community for management and opened as a place for Buddhist activities. New vitality and vigor appeared in this millennium old temple. Since 1984, with the support of the government and the help of linjizong, Linji temple has restored Shanmen hall, chengling pagoda, Daxiong hall, Faru hall, chuandeng hall and sengliao, making the temple take shape.

The origin of Buddhism

Because of the establishment and development of linjizong, he broke the dogma shackles in the past inheritance, tore off the superstitious coat put on by some people for Buddhism, and got the true meaning of Buddha, such as Yang's "Epiphany", "insight", "direct to the original heart", "selflessness" and "all beings are equal", "all have Buddha's nature" and "don't seek from others"; he initiated the "three mysteries and three essentials", "four guest hosts" and "four guest hosts"“ "Four simple materials" and "four Zhaoyong" are the methods of introducing scholars and studying Buddhism. They abandon complicated rituals, emphasize the integrity of human beings, and open the door to Buddhahood to all living beings. He talked about the Buddha and the devil, the saint and the mortal The unity and transformation of opposites and the negation of Buddhism, ancestors and even oneself have brought ancient Chinese philosophy to a new stage. Thus, the doctrines have the function of assisting politics and benefiting life. Therefore, the emperors of the past dynasties, by conferring titles, building and repairing, or appointing eminent monks and abbots, not only made use of this ideological and cultural heritage to maintain political and ideological rule, but also promoted the development of Buddhism and the inheritance of Chinese traditional civilization. After the death of Zen master Yixuan, Yizong of Tang Dynasty gave Yixuan the title of "huizhao Zen master" and granted the Yixuan relic pagoda built in Linji Temple of Zhenyang (now Zhengding), "chengling pagoda"; Yixuan's FA Si's "Zhenzhou Linji huizhao Zen master's quotations" was written by Yankang palace bachelor and doctor Jin ziguanglu, and spread to the world. After Zhao Kuangyin built the Song Dynasty in 960 ad, when his mother empress dowager Du moved to Kaifeng, she Zhending's former residence was a temple, and the imperial edict was "Linji". In 1183 ad, Jin Shizong finished Yan Yong and ordered Yixuan Zen master to rebuild the chengling pagoda which was about to be tilted. In 1253 ad, the fifth route Marshal Shi Tianze, who opened his office in Zhending, invited the imperial court to issue an imperial edict and the abbot of Linji temple. Since then, the temple of linjizong has formed an upper and lower house, in which the abbot of chichai is appointed by the emperor, and the abbot of Shifang is appointed by the public to invite famous teachers and a and B disciples to take turns. For example, the construction of the palaces of Pilu temple in Shangjing and the solemnity of the Buddha statues should be approved by the abbot of Zhengding Linji temple; the abbot of Fuqing temple in cangyan mountain should be dispatched by Zhengding Linji temple. In 1309 ad, Zhao Mengfu wrote "Linji Zhengzong stele" by imperial edict, which was erected in Zhengding Linji temple!!?? )。 After the death of the seal slips, Kublai Khan was given the posthumous title of "master Furi Yuanming". Before that, Genghis Khan was given the title of "master Jizhao Yingwu" and the second queen was given the title of "grand master guangtianzhen". In the reign of Emperor Wu of the Yuan Dynasty, the seal slips were given to his disciple Xi yun'an to pass on the seal of Linji Zhengzong, and he was granted the title of Ronglu doctor and dasikong. After Yin Zhen ascended the throne in the Qing Dynasty, he vigorously promoted the Linji Zen, and in 1733 ad, he granted the title of "Zhenzhou Linji monk Yixuan as" Zhenchang huizhao Zen master. ". During the reign of Emperor Qianlong, Emperor Hongli visited Zhending frequently to pay homage and write poems in Linji temple. In 1830 A.D., Qing Daoguang's inscription "inscription on the recommendation of Fu Shu, the governor of Zhili Zhengding and other local towns, to rebuild Linji Temple" was engraved in Linji temple.

Related Legends

Linji sect is one of the five main schools of Zen. The founder of linjizong was Yixuan Zen master in the late Tang Dynasty. There is also a story about the origin of linjizong. In the Tang Dynasty, there was a man named Xiyun. When he was young, he became a monk with his teacher in Fuqing County, Fujian Province. After that, he visited a famous master and got the biography of Huaihai Zen master in Baizhang mountain of Fengxin. He came to Yifeng during the reign of Kaicheng of Tang Dynasty

Chinese PinYin : Zheng Ding Lin Ji Si