Linggu Temple |
Linggu temple complex has one of the most interesting buildings in Nanjing -  the Beamless Hall (Walidng Dian). In 1381, when Hongwu was building his tomb, he had a temple on the site torn down and rebuilt a few kilometers to the east. Of this temple only the Beamless Hall (so called because it is built entirely of bricks and contains no beam supports) remains. The structure has an interesting vaulted ceiling and a large stone platform where Buddhist statues once sat. In the 1930s the hall was turned into a memorial to those who died in the 1926-28 revolution.
Founded in the Liang dynasty (502-557), Linggu temple was once a sprawling monastic complex where Buddhist monks studied in seclusion. Unfortunately, most of the temple was destroyed in the 19th century Taiping rebellion--a small loss in a conflict that claimed over 30 million lives. Among the temple's interesting features is a vaulted hall built in 1831, commonly called the "beamless hall" because, unlike most Chinese buildings, it is built entirely of masonry. Originally a shine to the Amitabha Buddha, it was converted in 1928 into a shrine for the 33,000 soldiers killed in Chiang Kai-Shek's "northern expedition" to reunify the country. Linggu pagoda is another notable structure. Built in 1928, it also commemorates the soldiers killed in the national revolution. It is a reinforced concrete and wood structure nine stories tall. Tourists can climb to the top on a spiral staircase. Highlights of Nanjing travel: |
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Nanjing Attractions