Lingshan Temple (Shantou)

Lingshan Temple
灵山寺
Religion
Affiliation	Buddhism
Sect	Chan Buddhism
Leadership	Shi Yaoru (释耀瑜)
Location
Location	Chaoyang District, Shantou, Guangdong
Country	China
Shown within Guangdong Show map of Guangdong Lingshan Temple (Shantou) (China) Show map of China
Geographic coordinates	23°19′41″N 116°26′53″E / 23.327945°N 116.447954°E / 23.327945; 116.447954
Architecture
Style	Chinese architecture
Founder	Chaozhou Dadian
Date established	791
Completed	1706 (reconstruction)

Lingshan Temple (simplified Chinese: 灵山寺; traditional Chinese: 靈山寺; pinyin: Língshān Sì) is a Buddhist temple located in Chaoyang District, Shantou, Guangdong, China.^[1][2][3]

This temple was built by a Chan master, Chaozhou Dadian [zh], in 791, in the 7th year of the Zhenyuan period of the Tang dynasty (618–907). After studying Buddhism from Shitou Xiqian, Chaozhou Dadian came to Chaozhou, where he founded the original temple. In 819, Han Yu, a poet and writer, was publicly disgraced and sent into exile. Han Yu became a friend of Chaozhou Dadian and often came to talk with him. In 822, Emperor Muzong inscribed and honored the name "Lingshan Huguo Chan Temple" (灵山护国禅寺).^[4]

In 1012, in the reign of Emperor Zhenzong of the Song dynasty (960–1279), monk Jueran (觉然) restored and redecorated the temple. It was renamed "Lingshan Kaishan Chan Temple" (灵山开善禅院) in 1029, during the reign of Emperor Renzong.^[4]

In 1369, at the dawn of the Ming dynasty (1368–1644), monk Kongshan (空山) refurbished the temple. Lingshan Temple was devastated in 1521 with only one hall and the Shanmen remaining.^[4]

In 1633, in the reign of the Chongzhen Emperor, magistrate Yang Zhuo (杨灼) supervised the reconstruction of Lingshan Temple.^[4]

In 1701, in the Kangxi era of the Qing dynasty (1644–1911), magistrate Peng Xiangsheng (彭象升) appropriated a large sum of money for constructing the temple. Under the leadership of Xinru (信如), the reconstruction was completed in 1706.^[4]

After the establishment of the Communist State in 1949, Lingshan Temple has been dilapidated by neglect.^[4]

During the ten-year Cultural Revolution, the red guards damaged the temple and caused massive losses of valuable cultural relics.^[4]

After the 3rd Plenary Session of the 11th Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party, according to the national policy of free religious belief, monks returned to Lingshan Temple, and regular scripture lectures, meditation, and other features of temple spiritual practices were resumed.^[4]

Lingshan Temple has been inscribed as a National Key Buddhist Temple in Han Chinese Area by the State Council of China in 1983.^[4]

Square in shape, the octagonal-based Chinese pagoda has seven stories with a height of 19-metre (62 ft). It is made of granite. Over 1,000 niches with small statues of Buddha are carved on the body of the pagoda.