Qianxi Temple

Qianxi temple, also known as Zhaiyi hall, is the first large cave at the north end of the west mountain of Longmen. Built in the reign of Emperor Gaozong of the Tang Dynasty (650-683), it is said that it was once the villa of Prime Minister Li Fan. In the Qing Dynasty, it was originally built with wooden eaves. In 1990, it was rebuilt to imitate Tang wood structure and paved with stone slab.

Qianxi Temple

Qianxi temple, also known as Zhaiyi hall, is the first large cave at the north end of the west mountain of Longmen. Built in the reign of Emperor Gaozong of the Tang Dynasty (650-683), it is said that it was once the villa of Prime Minister Li Fan. In the Qing Dynasty, it was originally built with wooden eaves. In 1990, it was rebuilt to imitate Tang wood structure and paved with stone slab.

Qianxi temple is a grotto temple on the northernmost side of the west mountain of Longmen. The main Buddha worshipped is Amitabha Buddha. In the south, there are Bodhisattva dashizhi, Ananda and Lishi. In the north, there are stone sculptures such as Guanyin Bodhisattva.

Cave landscape

There are two disciples, two Bodhisattvas and two heavenly kings. My Buddha Amitabha is sitting on the square seat of diese Xumi with a broad robe, open chest and cross knees. His face is full, his posture is quiet, and his hands are fearless. There is Guanyin on the left and right, and the Bodhisattva on the second flank of the general trend. His expression is quiet, his body proportion is appropriate, and his pleats are smooth. The three images are collectively known as the "three saints of the west".

Each door of the cave is engraved with a Dharma protector, with high cheekbones and big eyes, wearing armor and stepping on the night fork. There are two Buddha statues in the South niche outside the cave.

It is the first grotto at the north end of the west mountain of Longmen. It is more than nine meters high and nine meters wide, and nearly seven meters deep. It was built about 1300 years ago in the early Tang Dynasty. The caisson on the top of the cave is a lotus flower. Amitabha, the main Buddha, sits on the stage of Xumi, with a plump face, a raised chest, and a slanting garment pattern. His body is well proportioned and his expression is wise. His whole posture gives people a sense of serenity and kindness. On the left side of the main Buddha is the elder disciple JIAYE, and on the right side is the younger disciple Ananda. Next to the two disciples are Guanyin Bodhisattva and dashizhi Bodhisattva. In particular, the dashizhi Bodhisattva in Nanbi has a plump shape and a quiet manner. There are 1:1 copies on display in the Palace Museum. Amitabha Buddha and the two Bodhisattvas on both sides are called the western three saints, namely the three saints who are in charge of the Western Paradise. They are the objects of the Pure Land Sect of Buddhism.

Stories and legends

According to legend, the Supreme Lord Laojun once smelted the golden elixir in Longmen Guyang cave. One spring, he put the refined gold elixir into the gourd and stopped it with a plug. He was ready to go back to the heavenly palace to cheer up the flat peach of the queen mother. But his mount, jinluoju, suddenly disappeared. He took out his mirror and saw jinluoju strolling by Qianxi temple. Taishanglaojun hurried to Qianxi temple to lead the golden mule. Unexpectedly, he tripped over a stone and fell down. The golden elixir spilled all over the ground. He picked up the gold pills one by one, but he didn't find three hidden in the cracks of the stone. The continuous spring rain, the three golden peonies grow three peonies, are blooming red flowers. After the monks of Qianxi Temple found them, they moved them to the temple for planting, and then spread them to the people. It is called "fire refining gold elixir" because it is changed by the golden elixir of taishanglaojun, and it is red like a flame. It is also called "Qianxi Fei" because it first came out of Qianxi temple.

Address: the first big cave at the north end of the west mountain of Longmen

Longitude: 112.47699737549

Latitude: 34.558200836182

Chinese PinYin : Qian Xi Si