Da Xiangguo Temple

Da Xiangguo Temple is located in the center of Kaifeng City, Henan Province. It is a historically famous royal monastery and one of the ten great Han Buddhism temples. Originally named Jianguo Temple, it was founded in the sixth year of the Tianbao era of the Northern Qi dynasty (555 AD), with a history of over 1400 years. It is recorded that the site of the temple was the former residence of Xinling Jun, one of the Four Lords of the Warring States period. In 712 AD, Emperor Ruizong of the Tang dynasty renamed Jianguo Temple to Da Xiangguo Temple to commemorate his ascension from the position of chancellor to emperor. During the Northern Song dynasty, the temple was especially revered by the emperor and was expanded several times, covering an area of more than 500 acres and governing 64 Zen and Vinaya institutes, with thousands of monks, making it the center of Buddhism in the country. In 2002, it was rated as a national AAAA-level scenic spot. The 'Fan Music' of Da Xiangguo Temple, as a national-level intangible cultural heritage project in China, is acclaimed by industry insiders as 'the world's first royal Buddhist music'. Currently, the temple preserves ancient relics such as the Mountain Gate, the Hall of Heavenly Kings, the Mahavira Hall, the Octagonal Hall, the Sutra Collection Tower, the Bell and Drum Tower, and the Thousand-Handed and Thousand-Eyed Buddha. The entire temple complex is laid out with precision and is majestic and spectacular.