Leiyin Temple in Dunhuang Journey to the West

Leiyin Temple has a history of more than 1,700 years and its original site was next to the Mogao Grottoes. Generations of monks have been responsible for the management of Mogao Grottoes. The first cave of Mogao Grottoes was also excavated by monks from Leiyin Temple. The eminent monks and famous translators Kumarajiva and Xuanzang once preached here. Leiyin Temple was also once a royal temple. Later in the Ming and Qing Dynasties it was renamed Leiyin Temple. The prototype of the Leiyin Temple that Xuanzang and his companions passed by in Journey to the West is here. Later, Mogao Grottoes needed maintenance and restoration, so Leiyin Temple was moved to the vicinity of Mingsha Mountain. The temple is solemn, peaceful and tranquil. The buildings are all wooden structures, and the materials are the raw materials of the original temple of Mogao Grottoes. After the relocation, they are still rebuilt using mortise and tenon structures. The expanded part of the temple was built according to the prototype of Cave 278 of Mogao Grottoes. After the visit, I was meditating in the temple and came across a calico cat. It was very friendly and kept rubbing against me and letting me tickle it.