Xingfu Temple, Buddhist temple in Changshu, China
Xingfu Temple is a Buddhist temple in Changshu positioned at the base of Mount Yu and showcasing traditional Chinese architectural design. The complex includes multiple halls with ornate decorations, several pagodas, and towers arranged according to classical temple layout principles.
Founded between 494 and 502 by governor Ni Deguang as Dabei Temple, it was renamed Fushou Temple in 539 under Emperor Wu of Liang. The name Xingfu dates from 868, when Emperor Yizong of Tang bestowed a plaque reading "Xingfu Chan Temple". Most surviving halls were built in the Ming and Qing dynasties; the temple was restored in 1981–1985 and named a National Key Buddhist Temple in 1983.
The temple is also known as Poshan Temple after the Polong Stream beside it. Tang poet Chang Jian wrote "Writing on the Wall of a Hall at Poshan Temple" here; the poem was included in the Three Hundred Tang Poems compiled by Qing scholar Sun Zhu and is studied in Chinese middle schools.
The temple is accessible to visitors in Changshu with clear pathways connecting the various buildings and halls throughout the grounds. Wearing comfortable shoes is advisable and showing respect in active religious spaces is important.
A Tang Dynasty poet named Chang Jian once composed a celebrated poem about the temple that was included in a renowned Tang poetry collection. This literary work helped preserve the site in cultural memory across the centuries.
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