The Lingyin Temple is one of the largest and most prosperous Buddhist temples in China. The tempestuous history of the region has seen it re-built no less than sixteen times. The fact that it continues to thrive is a credit to the sheer determination of the Chinese people. Through location alone the Lingyin Temple is perceived to be the oldest in Hangzhou, with a history of 1,600 years, although there are many conflicting accounts. One story talks of an Indian monk Hui Li, who chose this spot in 328 A.D. on account of its beauty described as a ‘retreat of the soul’. The temple is said to have been given a major facelift in the tenth century when it was embellished with nine multi-storey structures and eighteen pavilions. At its height there were over 3,000 monks in residence, but destruction and reconstruction continued for a further six hundred years.
Finally in 1974 the Qing style structures were given a final makeover. Notable treasures include the camphor wood Weituo Bodhisattva at the rear of the main entrance which dates from the Southern Song, (1127 – 1279 A. D.) It is the oldest and most important statue in the temple. Running north along the central access is a courtyard for the burning of paper and incense. Beyond this stands the triple-eaved Grand Hall of the Great Sage which houses an eighteen-foot high camphor wood Sakyamuni, glazed in gold. In front of the Temple lies the “Peak flown from afar”, a craggy collection of limestone cliffs adorned with over 300 rock carvings. One of the largest carvings, a laughing Maitreya (future) Buddha, with his bloated belly is considered the earliest representation of this form in China, dating from the tenth century. Some believe that rubbing his belly can bring great fortune and predict the future.