11/3 Island temple

The whole island is essentially the temple called DingHuiSi, 定慧寺.  From across banks the island does not look like a temple but it essentially encompasses the whole island.  Built during the Han Dynasty, around 1500 years ago, this temple still has its original architecture, surviving the red guards during the Cultural Revolution likely due to its island inaccessibility.

I’ve seen the fish, looks like dragon fish “bong”, at many temples such as the temples in Korea.  A kind monastic explained that they would strike the fish to call everyone back for mealtime.  As for the coin “hudian” they would strike that to gather everyone for announcements.

Late Master Dong Chu, the teacher of late Master Shen Yen who founded of Dharma Drum Mountain, was the abbot here.

Jiaoshan Dinghuisi,Dongwu Rd, Jingkou, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, China

11/3 - Solemn Religious University Like Temple

It is a temple and is also a Buddhist divinity school.  We had to contain our enthusiasm and speak softly while visiting.  GaoMingSi, 高旻寺, has been around since Sui Dynasty around 1400 years ago.  It is of Linji Zen lineage, one of four major Zen/Chan schools.  Thich Nhat Nanh, Master ShingYun of FoGuanShan, and Late Master ShenYen of Dharma Drum Mountain are all part of the Linji Zen lineage. 

We partook in their afternoon meditation and tea practicre.  Let’s just say there was a monk with a long stick and everyone was very orderly.  I only dozed when he was at the far side of the meditation hall.

The pictures above were taken with a fish-eye lens so they're a little curved.

Another special significance for us pilgrims is that over a dozen monastics from Dharma Drum Mountain partook in a full ordination ceremony at this temple, which this temple had only given this once in a hundred years.  That’s a long time..

No.5 Yangzijiangnan Rd, Guazhou,Hanjiang, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China

11/2 JiangZhen, Abbot of DaMingSi, traveled to Japan to help establish early Japanese Buddhism

DaMingSi, 大明寺, was first built in 457-464 AD. The famous monk, Jiangzhen who was also a scholar in architecture and medicine traveled to Japan at the request of Japanese priests.  There he established the Ristu Sect, one of six Buddhist sects in the ancient capital Nara Japan, built the temple Toshodai-Ji, and brought other cultural technology to Japan. JiangZhen or Gangjin (Japanese), he and other Chinese monks from his entourage undertook the ordination of Japanese monastics in 755 AD to help establish Japanese monastic sangha. An ordination platform was constructed for this purpose at Todai-Ji by the order of the Japanese emperor.

If you have visited Nara, you would recognize the resemblance of the temple and pagoda architectures.  When I visited Toshodai-Ji and Todai-Ji in Nara, I never thought that today I would be connecting the dots with DaMingSi.

Side note; DaMingSi has a university where all their students must also learn traditional Chinese medicine, traditional Chinese music, along with two additional foreign languages, English and Japanese.

8 Pingshantang E Rd, Weiyang, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China

11/2 - Home Temple of Mahasthamprata Bodhisattva

Mahasthamprapta, Da Shi Zhi Pusa, is one of the three main Buddha/Boddhisattvas in the Pureland universe.  Often they are depicted together, with Amitaba, Buddha of the Pureland at the center, Avalokitesvara to the right and Mahasthamaprata to the left.  “Home” is my layman’s description, officially it’s called the ashram of of Mahasthamaprapta.  The pagoda pictured here, Zhiyun Pagoda of Langshan (the "Lang" mountain this temple is situated on), was built around 1000 years ago during the Song Dynasty to commemorate Mahasthamaprata or DaShiZhi Pusa (Chinese). 

GuangJiaoSi (Si = Temple), 广教寺, was first built in 996AD by Master Sangha, has a special significance for us, the pilgrims.  Firstly, we are or I am truly excited to visit thirty or so temples starting with this one.  Secondly, our group is comprised of Dharma Drum Mountain monastics, volunteers (myself) and friends.  Late Master Shen Yen, who founded Dharma Drum Mountain lineage, was ordained as a novice monk and studied here as a young monastic.

No.18 Lingang Rd, Langshan, Chongchuan, Nantong, Jiangsu, China