The Scenic Spots Related to Tang Monk

Xuanzhuang was the famous traveler, translator and Buddhism expert in Tang Dynasty in China. He was called “Sanzang Eminent Monk”. The “ the Report of Grand tang Western Region” written by Xuanzhuang was noticed by lots of scholars in the world. The scenic spots relating to Tang Monk had attracted more and more visitors.

Xuanzhuang Hometown
The beautiful, quiet and fragrant phoenix Valley lied in the Chenhe Village of Houshi Town in Henan Luoyang and the clear Majian River went through the valley. Xuanzhuang’s original name was Chen Wei. He became a monk in Jingtu Temple in Luoyang when he was 13 years and his Buddhist name was Xuanzhuang. The villagers built a Xuanzhuang Temple to commemorate him and worship him, his three apprentices and “White Dragon” Horse. They repaired the scenic spots such as Airing Buddhist Sutra Place, and built the Xuanzhuang Hometown Scenic Spots.

Cien Temple
It lied in the south end of Yanta Road in Xi’an and it was built in Sui Dynasty. Tang Gaozong Li Zhi renamed it “the Grand Cien Temple” for requiting the loving mother’s favor. The famous painters Yan Liben and Wu Daozi painted many paintings for the temple. It was the most famous temple in Chang’an at that time. Xuanzhuang had been the abbot and translated the Buddhist inscription obtained from India for 11 years. He founded the important “ Cien” branch of Buddhism and another name was “Faxiang” Branch. Many visitors had visited it and people worshiped it for more than 1,000 years. There was a Xuanzhuang Memorial Hall in the north of the temple.

Wild Goose Tower
It was built inside the Cien Temple for keeping and placing the Buddhist inscription, which were brought by Xuanzhuang from India. Its height was 64 meters and made of bricks. When it was being built, Xuanzhaung carried the bricks in person. Because of a wild goose falling, for keeping the luck, it was call “Wild Goose Tower”. Since Tang Dynasty, the new Number One Scholars would give autograph as memento in it after the Xingling Banquet. The giving autograph in Wild Goose Tower had been a much-told tale in the literary circles.

Yuhua Temple
Its original name was Yuhua Palace. Li Zhi changed its name into Yuhua Palace. Xuanzhuang had translated the Buddhist inscription in Yuhua Temple for 3 years and finally completed the brought inscription and died in here. Yuhua Temple lied in the north suburban of Dongchuan City. The landscape was beautiful and there were many scenic spots and cultural remains, such as the footprint of Xuanzhaung stone statue, Jinggangzuo of Xuanzhuang’s handprint and the original text of Xuanzhuang “Xiederushan Biao”. At that time, Yuhua Temple had been a relic and the Xuanzhuang Memorial Hall had been built in the old site of Yuhuan Palace. Many cultural remains, inscription, pictures and statues related to Xuanzhaung were showed.

Xingjiao Temple
It lied in the south of Chang’an County, near the side of Shaolingyuan and it was one of the Manchuan Eight Temples in Tang Dynasty. It was built to bury Xuanzhuang and a remains of Xuanzhuang was moved from Bailuyuan in A.D. 669. Tang Xingzong wrote its name “Xingjiao”. It consisted of Main Hall and Attic of Buddhist Texts. There were three towers inside and the highest one was Xuanzhuang Stupa that was 5 floors, square and made of bricks. The Stupa was solemn, simple and sophisticated. Another two small towers were Xuanzhuang’s apprentices Yuanche’s and Quiji”s towers. The carved stone images were showed in the Main Hall, such as “ the Painting of Xuanzhuang Fuji” and “the Painting of Traveling” etc pictures and cultural remains.

Sanzang Tower
It lied in the top of Fuzhou Hill in Nanjing city. Because of finding the skull of Xuanzhuang in Sanzang Hall relic of the Grand Baoen Temple outside of China Gate. It was built in 1944 and made of bricks. The tower was four sides and five floors. Each floor had standing piles and arches. You could stand in the tower and watch the beautiful Xuanwu Lake and had a panoramic view on the beautiful spots.

Xuanzhuang Temple
In Taiwan, the sun and moon Pond Scenic Spot was the Buddhism scenic spot. Many temples were in the midway up mountains and near the lakesides. There were Wenwu Temple, Xuanguang Temple and Xuanzhuang Temple and so on. The Japanese robbed part of Xuanzhaung remains in the War of Resistance Against Japanese period and it was brought back in 1966. At first, it was placed in Kaishan Temple in Lion Head Mountain, and then it was moved to Xuanzhuang Temple and was kept in it. So, many believers went to Xuanzhaung Temple to worship it.

Written by www.travel-silkroad.com
Translated by Beijing Star-light Translation Center
December 24, 2000