A brief history of Nanxiang Temple
By He Jiying, Chen Jie and Wang Jie |
March 26, 2012, Monday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
NANXIANG Temple was built from AD 502 to AD 520 and expanded between AD 836 and AD 840.
From AD 860 to AD 879, two shijingzhuang (stone pillar with Buddhism lection and joss on it) were set up in the temple. From AD 907 to 1127, two brick towers were added, which are still standing there today. The towers are truly ancient wonders. In 1766, a fire destroyed Nanxiang Temple, leaving nothing but this twin towers, which become the oldest relics in today's Nanxiang Old Town.
Having going through two centuries, the ancient towers were not in good conditions. In 1982, with the reference to many related records, the renovation plan of the towers was outlined. The twin towers are 11 meters high and each with eight sides after renovation. The seven-storied towers are totally made of brick, with the architecture style of the Tang (AD 618-907) and Song (960-1279) dynasties.
The twin towers in Nanxiang are the oldest among all the existing brick towers in the style of wood-structured pavilion, boasting a unique artistic value and rendering a good example for the study of Chinese ancient architecture, religion and local history.
In 2008, when Nanxiang Old Town was renovated, workers discovered relics deep inside the temple of one entrance gate and two wells. The two wells were located 13 meters apart. According to the historic records, the wells were built in the Southern and Northern Dynasties (AD 420-589), and were still in use in the Song Dynasty. After a fire in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), a pavilion was built above the well. The abandoning of the wells might be caused by a bomb explosion by Japanese intruders during 1932 to 1937.
From AD 860 to AD 879, two shijingzhuang (stone pillar with Buddhism lection and joss on it) were set up in the temple. From AD 907 to 1127, two brick towers were added, which are still standing there today. The towers are truly ancient wonders. In 1766, a fire destroyed Nanxiang Temple, leaving nothing but this twin towers, which become the oldest relics in today's Nanxiang Old Town.
Having going through two centuries, the ancient towers were not in good conditions. In 1982, with the reference to many related records, the renovation plan of the towers was outlined. The twin towers are 11 meters high and each with eight sides after renovation. The seven-storied towers are totally made of brick, with the architecture style of the Tang (AD 618-907) and Song (960-1279) dynasties.
The twin towers in Nanxiang are the oldest among all the existing brick towers in the style of wood-structured pavilion, boasting a unique artistic value and rendering a good example for the study of Chinese ancient architecture, religion and local history.
In 2008, when Nanxiang Old Town was renovated, workers discovered relics deep inside the temple of one entrance gate and two wells. The two wells were located 13 meters apart. According to the historic records, the wells were built in the Southern and Northern Dynasties (AD 420-589), and were still in use in the Song Dynasty. After a fire in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), a pavilion was built above the well. The abandoning of the wells might be caused by a bomb explosion by Japanese intruders during 1932 to 1937.
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