Seeking the Craftsmanship of the Great Tang Dynasty - Nanchan Temple, Foguang Temple

Since returning from the southern Shanxi trip in the first half of the year, I have been planning a northern Shanxi trip for the end of the year. This four-day, three-night northern Shanxi trip with friends had no sandstorms or strong winds, just a blue sky and warm sunshine, as if taking care of us, a group of devoted ancient architecture fans. Before departure, I did a lot of last-minute research, but I was still shocked by the two surviving Tang Dynasty buildings. Nanchan Temple stands out modestly among the many temples on Mount Wutai. Without the backing of a royal temple, it quietly rests in the countryside. It was precisely because of its low profile that it survived Emperor Wuzong’s Buddhist persecution and a thousand years of wars. Unfortunately, the Buddha statues in the main hall were stolen twice in modern times. Nanchan Temple is more than seventy years older than Foguang Temple and is the earliest surviving wooden building in China. Its gentle roof and simple wooden windows tell a story of a thousand years of modesty and composure. I learned about Foguang Temple because of the internet-famous dog Erliang. Although I didn’t get a chance to meet it this time, the monks at Foguang Temple raise many adorable cats and dogs. I took a photo at the place once measured by Lin Huiyin. The Manjusri Hall in the lower temple is the largest side hall among the temples on Mount Wutai. It uses the "reduced column method" to expand the space. Inside the hall are seven Jin Dynasty statues and numerous Ming Dynasty Arhat murals. On the morning of the first day, the sunlight was the best filter, just coloring the eaves of the two main halls golden. There was no noisy incense burning, only the gentle sound of the breeze brushing through the branches. This is the quietest echo of the flourishing Tang Dynasty.