Ningbo Ashoka Temple: the ancient temple’s Sanskrit sounds, historical heritage and cultural treasures.

On the coast of the East China Sea, in Ningbo, a land full of historical heritage and cultural atmosphere, stands an ancient and solemn Buddhist holy place - the Ashoka Temple. This thousand-year-old temple carries a long history, profound culture and endless wisdom. It is like a shining pearl, exuding unique charm. 1. Historical Origins The Ashoka Temple was first built in the third year of Taikang reign of Emperor Wu of the Western Jin Dynasty (282 AD), and has a history of more than 1,700 years. The temple is famous for housing the Sakyamuni's real relics and the exquisite pagoda. According to legend, during the reign of King Ashoka of the Maurya Empire in ancient India, Buddhism was vigorously promoted, the Buddha's relics were distributed throughout the world, and pagodas were built to enshrine them. One of the relics was brought to Ningbo and is now enshrined in the Ashoka Temple. Throughout the long course of history, the Ashoka Temple has gone through many vicissitudes and has been repeatedly rebuilt and destroyed. However, thanks to the efforts of eminent monks and great virtues of all generations and the support of believers, it has always maintained its vitality. During the Tang Dynasty, the Ashoka Temple entered its heyday, with many eminent monks emerging and a grand temple, becoming one of the Buddhist centers in the Jiangnan region at that time. During the Song Dynasty, the Ashoka Temple was further developed and renovated. The emperor bestowed names, scriptures and gifts on it many times, making it famous. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, despite the wars, the Ashoka Temple still survived tenaciously and was restored and rebuilt to varying degrees. 2. The beauty of architecture Walking into the Ashoka Temple is like stepping into a peaceful Buddhist world. The architecture in the temple is simple, elegant, solemn and dignified, fully embodying the perfect fusion of traditional Chinese architecture and Buddhist culture. In front of the mountain gate, a pair of mighty stone lions guard the temple, demonstrating the majesty of the ancient temple. Entering the mountain gate, the first thing that catches your eye is the Hall of Heavenly Kings, where Maitreya Buddha and the Four Heavenly Kings are enshrined. Maitreya Buddha has a kind smile, giving people a sense of intimacy and joy; the Four Heavenly Kings are tall and mighty, holding magical instruments in their hands, guarding Buddhism and all living beings. Passing through the Hall of Heavenly Kings, you will reach the Main Hall. The Main Hall is magnificent and is one of the main buildings of the Ashoka Temple. The hall houses three large Buddha statues: Sakyamuni Buddha, Medicine Buddha and Amitabha Buddha. The Buddha statues are solemn and magnificent. The surrounding walls are painted with exquisite Buddhist murals, telling ancient Buddhist stories. Behind the Main Hall is the Relic Hall. The Relic Hall is the core building of the Ashoka Temple, where the real relics of Sakyamuni and the relic pagoda are enshrined. The pagoda is exquisitely shaped and made of pure gold. The body of the pagoda is inlaid with various gems, emitting a mysterious glow. The architectural style of the Relic Hall is unique. The roof is made of yellow glazed tiles and the main color of the hall is red, which makes it look particularly solemn. In addition to the above main buildings, the Ashoka Temple also has buildings such as the Sutra Library, Dharma Hall, Abbot's Room, Bell Tower, and Drum Tower. These buildings are arranged in an orderly manner and echo each other, forming a complete Buddhist architectural complex. The garden landscape in the temple is also unique, with shady trees, lush flowers and plants, rockery and flowing water, pavilions and towers, adding a sense of tranquility and elegance to the ancient temple. 3. Cultural Value Ashoka Temple is not only a Buddhist temple, but also a cultural treasure house. It contains rich Buddhist culture, historical culture and artistic culture, and has extremely high cultural value. In terms of Buddhist culture, Ashoka Temple, as a Buddhist holy place, has always been a place where eminent monks preached, practiced and spread the Dharma. The temple preserves a large number of Buddhist scriptures, cultural relics and ritual objects, such as palm leaf scriptures, Buddha statues, and Buddhist beads. These cultural relics bear witness to the spread and development of Buddhism in China and are of great significance for the study of Buddhist culture. Ashoka Temple also has a profound historical and cultural heritage. It has witnessed the historical changes and social development of Ningbo and is an important part of Ningbo's history and culture. The ancient buildings, inscriptions, couplets and other cultural relics in the temple record the footprints and poems of famous people and scholars of all dynasties, providing precious materials for the study of Ningbo's history and culture. In terms of art and culture, the architecture, sculptures, murals and other works of art in the Ashoka Temple have high artistic value. The temple has a unique architectural style that combines elements of traditional Chinese architecture and Buddhist culture, reflecting the superb skills of ancient craftsmen. The sculptures and murals in the temple are exquisite and vivid, demonstrating the outstanding talent of ancient artists. 4. Eminent Monks and Great Virtues In the history of Ashoka Temple, many eminent monks and great virtues have emerged. With their wisdom and practice, they have made outstanding contributions to the development and inheritance of Buddhism. Master Jianzhen, an eminent monk in the Tang Dynasty, once stayed at the Aśoka Temple and spread Buddhism there. Master Jianzhen, unafraid of danger, traveled to Japan six times to spread Buddhist and Chinese culture, becoming an envoy of cultural exchange between China and Japan. Xutang Zhiyu, a famous monk in the Song Dynasty, was also one of the famous monks in the Aśoka Temple. He was well versed in Buddhism and wrote works such as "Xuantang Collection", which had a profound influence on the development of Buddhism in later generations. In modern times, a group of outstanding monks have emerged in the Aśoka Temple, such as Master Yuanying. Master Yuanying devoted his life to Buddhism, actively participated in the anti-Japanese and national salvation movement, and made important contributions to the country and the nation. 5. Tourist Attractions Today, the Ashoka Temple is not only a holy place of worship for Buddhist believers, but also a famous tourist destination. Every year, a large number of tourists come to visit, to experience the tranquility and solemnity of the ancient temple and to appreciate the charm of Buddhist culture. When visiting the Ashoka Temple, visitors can stroll among the ancient buildings in the temple and appreciate the exquisite architectural art; they can visit the Relic Hall and pay homage to the real relics of Sakyamuni; they can listen to the lectures of eminent monks and appreciate the wisdom of Buddhism; they can also taste the vegetarian food in the temple and experience the Buddhist lifestyle. In addition, there are many other tourist attractions around the Ashoka Temple, such as Tiantong Temple, Dongqian Lake, etc. Visitors can visit these attractions while touring the Ashoka Temple to experience Ningbo's natural scenery and cultural landscape. VI. Inheritance and Development In today's society, Ashoka Temple faces new opportunities and challenges. On the one hand, with the development of society and people's increasing demand for spiritual and cultural life, Buddhist culture has received more and more attention and attention. As a Buddhist holy place, Ashoka Temple has broad development prospects. On the other hand, in the process of modernization, the Ashoka Temple also faces many problems such as protecting traditional culture and adapting to social development. In order to better inherit and develop Buddhist culture, the Ashoka Temple actively carries out various cultural activities, such as holding Buddhist ceremonies, academic seminars, cultural lectures, etc. At the same time, the eminent monks in the temple also actively participate in social welfare undertakings and contribute to social harmony and stability. In terms of protecting traditional culture, the Ashoka Temple has strengthened the protection and repair of ancient buildings and cultural relics to ensure that these precious cultural heritages can be inherited and continued. At the same time, the temple also focuses on the excavation and compilation of Buddhist culture, and has published a series of Buddhist books and audio-visual products to allow more people to understand and recognize Buddhist culture. In short, as a thousand-year-old temple, Ningbo Ashoka Temple carries a long history, profound culture and endless wisdom. It is a treasure of Buddhist culture, an important part of Ningbo's history and culture, and an attractive tourist destination. In future development, the Ashoka Temple will continue to uphold the fine traditions of Buddhism, actively adapt to the needs of social development, and make greater contributions to inheriting and promoting Buddhist culture and promoting social harmony and stability. Ashoka Temple