User:Immanuelle/Leshan Temple
27°05′58.6″N 119°54′49.4″E / 27.099611°N 119.913722°E
Leshan Hall, commonly known as Gaizhu Hall, formerly called Longshou Temple, is located in Ta Hou Village, Xiapu County, Fujian Province, China. It was established by the Mingjiao (Manichaean) follower Sun Mian in the fourth year of Qiande during the Northern Song Dynasty (966 AD). It is the earliest Manichaean building constructed in Fujian and has been a significant site for Manichaean activities in the Baiyang area for over a thousand years, until it was destroyed by Typhoon Saomai in 2006.[1][2]
Name
[change | change source]Initially, Leshan Hall was called "Longshou Temple." During the Yuan Dynasty, it was renamed "Leshan Hall." The name "Leshan" was originally thought to be derived from the phrase "智者乐水，仁者乐山" (The wise find joy in water; the benevolent find joy in mountains) from the Analects of Confucius.[3] Another explanation suggests that "Leshan" comes from the Middle Persian word Rōšan (or Rōšn), meaning "light," reflecting Manichaean reverence for light.[4] Additionally, since the building's purpose was likely more of a gathering hall for followers rather than a monastery, changing "temple" to "hall" could be related to its function.[1]
History
[change | change source]According to the genealogy of the Sun clan compiled in 1932, Sun Mian from Chanyang Village (now Shenyang Village, part of Baiyang Township) purchased this land and began building Longshou Temple in the fourth year of Qiande during the Northern Song Dynasty (966 AD), becoming its first head. In the fifth year of Tiansheng (1027 AD), Lin Deng from Shangwan Village converted to Mingjiao at Longshou Temple and later became a prominent local Mingjiao preacher and the second head of Longshou Temple, greatly expanding its influence. Lin Deng's disciple, Chen Pingshan, succeeded him as the temple's head.[5]
During the Yuan Dynasty, Longshou Temple was renamed Leshan Hall. In the Ming and Qing Dynasties, Leshan Hall was rebuilt twice. At the beginning of the People's Republic of China, according to local elders, Leshan Hall had several courtyards. At the start of the Cultural Revolution, Leshan Hall was demolished and later roughly repaired with a temporary structure for storing villagers' tools and sheltering from the rain. In 2006, Leshan Hall was destroyed by Typhoon Saomai, leaving only remnants such as pillar bases, steps, and altar bases.[1]
Architectural Style and Nature
[change | change source]Due to the long history and lack of written records, the original appearance of Leshan Hall is unknown. The ruins cover about 1560 square meters. Photos of the simple structure built at the end of the Cultural Revolution show that Leshan Hall was supported by columns with no walls. If the original building was constructed similarly, Leshan Hall was not suitable for monastic life. Furthermore, its location at the village entrance, rather than a secluded area, indicates it was more of a gathering hall than a monastery. This also explains the name change from "temple" to "hall."[1]
Related Activities
[change | change source]Every year on the Ghost Festival (15th day of the 7th lunar month), Manichaean followers from Shangwan Village gather at Leshan Hall to hold ceremonies for the deceased. This concept of offering for the dead contrasts with the Manichaean doctrine of reverence for light, indicating that Xiapu Manichaeism has incorporated some practices, such as comforting the populace, to persist locally.[6]
See Also
[change | change source]- Xiapu Manichaean manuscripts: An important collection of documents recording Xiapu Manichaeism, the longest known Chinese Manichaean literature, with mentions of Leshan Hall in the "Records of the Leshan Hall Gods."
- Shangwan Village Manichaean Stone Carvings: Built near Leshan Hall, used to decorate the Three Buddhas Tower and Deng Gong Stone Tower, rare examples of Manichaean stone art.
- Fushou Palace in Puxi: Located outside the south gate of Fuzhou, the best-preserved Manichaean temple building, dedicated to Lin Deng, who once helped with disaster relief in Fuzhou.
References
[change | change source]- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Fan Lisha; Yang Fuxue (2011). "Xiapu Manichaean Literature and Its Importance". World Religious Studies (in Chinese) (06). Beijing: Institute of World Religions, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. ISSN 1000-4289.
- ↑ Kósa, Gábor (2018). Eastern Manichaeism in the Mirror of Its Book and Writing Culture (in German). Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co KG. ISBN 978-3-11-059393-8.
- ↑ Ma, Xiaohe (2009). "Remains of the Religion of Light in Xiapu County, Fujian Province". Eurasian Studies Volume 9: Proceedings of the Second International Symposium on Traditional Chinese Studies Eurasian Special Edition. Beijing: Zhonghua Book Company. pp. 83–84.
- ↑ A Concise Pahlavi Dictionary. New York|Toronto: Oxford University Press. 1971. pp. 72.
- ↑ Yang Fuxue (2014). "Lin Deng and His Position in the History of Chinese Manichaeism". Chinese Historical Studies (in Chinese) (01). Beijing: 109-124. ISSN 1002-7963.
- ↑ Ma Xiaohe; Wu Chunming (2010). "Manichaeism and Salvation of Souls: A Study of the Xiapu Mingjiao "Zoushen Dieshu"". Jiuzhou Xuelin (in Chinese) (03): 45-46.
