Henan: White Horse Temple, Sep 2024

Luoyang, in the western part of Henan province, was the capital city of 13 dynasties for a period of over 1,500 years and the eastern starting point of the Silk Road.  About 40 mins from downtown Luoyang is White Horse Temple, the first Buddhist temple established in China in 68 AD under the patronage of Emperor Ming in the Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220 AD).  The temple housed the first ancient pagoda, the Qiyun Pagoda, and accommodated the first Indian monk.  White Horse Temple is the world’s only temple with Chinese, Indian, Thai, and Burmese Buddhist architectures.  Legend has it that Emperor Ming had a dream of a golden figure soaring above his courtyard and that inspired him to send envoys to acquire the knowledge of Buddhism.  Two eminent Indian monks accompanied the envoy back to China with a white horse carrying the sacred sutras and statues.  In honor of the white horse that carried the sutras, the temple was named White Horse Temple and two granite horses can still be found at its entrance today.  The temple is considered by most believers as the origin of Chinese Buddhism.  The first hall as you enter is the Hall of the Heavenly Kings with Maitreya Buddha in the middle guarded by the four kings dating back to the Qing Dynasty.  In the center of the temple is the Hall of the Great Buddha built in the Ming Dynasty and houses Sakyamuni, Wenshui, Samantabhadra, and other statues.  The roof is covered with exquisite pantiles which is the architectural style of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).   Next to the Hall of the Great Buddha is the largest hall within the temple, the Hall of Mahavira.  There are thousands of Buddha statues as well as the 18 Luohans crafted from precious silk and hemp all housed under a roof that is carved with colorful lotus patterns.  In the center stand the statues of Sakyamuni, Amitabha, and the Buddha of Medicine all made during the Yuan Dynasty.  In the rear of the temple is the Cool and Clear Terrace where the original sutras were stored and translated which now resembles a tranquil courtyard surrounded by cyprus and cassia trees.  There is a small tea house where visitors can have a bowl of tea for free.  About 200 meters from the Main Temple stands the 13-tiered brick Qiyun Pagoda (齐云塔) first built in 69 AD and then rebuilt in 1175 AD during the Jin Dynasty.  It is one of the oldest Chinese ancient pagodas and it is said that if you clap your hands 20 meters back from the pagoda, the echoes will sound like frogs croaking.

Entrance of White Horse Temple

Entrance of White Horse Temple