“The Most Flourishing Forest in Jiangnan” — Wuxi • Nanchan Temple

Nanchan Temple, also known as Fusheng Zen Monastery, is located at No. 32 Xiangyang Road, Liangxi District, Wuxi City, Jiangsu Province, situated in the southern corner of the old city of Wuxi, by the ancient canal. Nanchan Temple was first built in the first year of the Taiqing period of the Southern Liang Dynasty (547 AD), originally named Huguo Temple. It was one of the famous temples in Jiangnan among the 480 temples of the Southern Dynasties, with the saying “Liangxi's grand temple, first Huishan, then Huguo.” In the first year of the Yongxi period of the Northern Song Dynasty (984 AD), a pagoda was built (later named Miaoguang Pagoda); in the third year of the Chongning period of the Northern Song Dynasty (1023-1031 AD), the temple was rebuilt and granted the name “Fusheng Zen Monastery,” commonly known as “Nanchan Temple,” and was called “The Most Flourishing Forest in Jiangnan.” The main buildings of Nanchan Temple exhibit the architectural characteristics of Buddhist temples in the Jiangnan region during the Ming and Qing Dynasties. The beam structure inside the temple is relatively simplified, with beams and columns directly joined through mortise and tenon joints, without relying on the dougong layer. The height of the dougong on the columns occupies a small proportion of the total elevation but is densely packed. The eaves are relatively short, with beautifully curved flying eaves, elegant and lively. The roof has a steep pitch, with rich details in the tile work, reflecting the architectural style of the Ming and Qing Dynasties. The Miaoguang Pagoda in the temple is a seven-story, eight-sided pavilion-style structure, with copper bells hanging from the eaves corners, praised as “the sound of the golden bell heard for ten miles, the jade dragon descending from the sky,” and is one of the “Eight Scenic Spots of Wuxi.” In 2012, the Nanchan Temple Scenic Area in Wuxi, where Nanchan Temple is located, was listed as a national AAAA-level tourist attraction. Nanchan Temple