Jiangtian Si
Popularly known as Jinshan Si (Jinshan Temple), it sits atop Jinshan Hill in the suburbs of Zhenjiang, a city by the Yangtze River. Jiangtian Si (Jiangtian Temple) is none other than the Zexin Temple built in 325, eight years after the founding of the Eastern Jin Dynasty. The prestige of this temple is associated with the fact it used to be the domain of Foyin, a celebrated monk of the Song Dynasty. The temple was renamed the “Longyou Temple” during the Tianxi reign (1017-1021) of the Song Dynasty, and during one of his south China tours, Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty changed it to the “Jiangtian Temple.”
Jinshan Hill used to be an isle in the Yangtze River, but during the Daoguang reign (1821-1850) of the Qing Dynasty, the river course was gradually silted up to turn the island into a peninsula. The buildings of the Jiangtian Temple are laid out along the contours of the hill and look unique in architectural style. The temple is so cleverly tucked away in the depth of the woods that its buildings are invisible when observed from a distance, yet close at hand the spectator gets the impression that all he sees are magnificent buildings and the hill itself seems invisible. The landscape is indeed fabulous and mesmerizing. The place is studded with scenic spots and sites of historical and cultural value.
Among the major ones are: 1) the Cishou Pagoda built during the Liang (502-557) Dynasty, a seven-story structure poised atop Jinshan Hill with staircases providing access to each of its seven floors; 2) the Fahai Cave, the legendary dwelling of Fahai, the legendary monk who was endowed with divine power and who once dug gold from underneath the hill to be used to rebuild the temple; 3) the Miaogao Terrace, also known as the Sutra Sunning Terrace, reportedly built by the famous Song-Dynasty monk Foyin; 4) the Lanka Terrace, also known as Sujing Altar, which was built during the Qiandao reign (1165-1173) of the Southern Song Dynasty; and 5) the Liuyun Terrace, also called the Pavilion to View the River and the Sky at a Glance, which is perched on the northern corner of the hilltop and commands a scenic overview of the surroundings, a must for travelers to the Jinshan Temple.
