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 The Ling
Yin Si is the most ancient monastery in Hangzhou. It is situated
to the west of the West Lake and in between the Northern Peak
and the Fei Lai Feng (Peak that Flew Over). It was built in the
first year of Emperor Xian He of the Eastern Jin Dynasty (326
AD) which is otherwise known as Yun Ling Monastery. In the final
period of Five Dynasties, rooms of monks alone were of 1300 odd
and it was claimed to have 9 buildings, 18 pavilions and 72 halls,
a scale you just imagine. Today, buildings inside the monastery
are Hall of Heavenly King, The Precious Hall of the Great Hero,
the Chain Lamp pavilion and the Great Mercy Hall etc. The Precious
Hall of the Great Hero is the main hall of the Ling Yin Sze which
is 7 rooms wide and 5 rooms deep, with one storey, three layer
eaves and pinnacle roof 33.6 meters in height. On the both sides
of Danchi (vermilion steps leading up to a palace) of the hall,
there stand stone pagodas with 9 storeys and 8 surfaces and sculptured
Budhist stories on four walls. In the right middle of the hall
there is the statue of the founder of Budhism, Sakyamuni sculptured
out of fragrant camphor wood. The total height of the image, stone
platform, pedestal and lotus throne is 19.5 meters. On the both
sides of Sakyamuni stand 20 saints protecting justice and on the
back wall sit his 12 disciples. Besides, there is a sculpture
of Budhist mountain out of the story of Budhist sutra laying 53
respects on which there are 150 odd big and small. Budha images
in different postures, showing the difficult process and bright
future in learning Budhism.
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