Qinglian Temple, Jincheng, Shanxi

Qinglian Temple is located on the mountainside of Xiashi Mountain, 17 km southeast of Jincheng City. Built on the mountain, the temple is surrounded by lush forests and the Dan River. The temple buildings are hidden among the green trees. The surrounding mountains resemble a lotus flower emerging from the water, making the temple a beautiful place. The temple is home to ancient cypress trees and towering ginkgo trees, creating a tranquil and beautiful environment. It is one of the earliest temples of the Maitreya Pure Land Sect of Buddhism in China and is famous for the saying "Wen Qinglian, Wu Shaolin" (文青莲，武少林). Qinglian Temple was founded by the famous Northern Qi monk Master Huiyuan during the Tianbao period (550–559 AD) and was originally named "Xiashi Temple." In the eighth year of the Xiantong period of the Tang Dynasty (867 AD), the temple was renamed "Qinglian Temple" by imperial decree. The temple is home to Wei stele inscriptions, Tang sculptures, and Song, Ming, and Qing architecture, murals, and poetry. The six Tang Dynasty painted sculptures are particularly exquisite and are unique in China. In 1988, the temple was listed as a national key cultural relic protection unit. Photo by alumnus Ruan Xingguo.