They encountered with more and more difficulties and hard time as the work progressed especially facing great problem when coming to carving section. Unexpectedly, the team was constraint in ability and they were not up to the level to carry out such a highly professionalism expectation project. The work was sub-contracted to a team of artisans from Hebei. was doubtful about his experience and ability to handle the contract. The Abbot Weisu (维恕法师) personally interviewed him and was actually very impressed with his idea, his drawings, his wax made model and his presentation but finally decided not to award the job to him, as he being so young, Rev. The 22 years old carving professor, Hu-Mingzhu (胡明珠) was the most outstanding amongst all the well known artisans that were present to compete. To double sure that the project could be completed on time and built at a high standard of superior level in quality, the management followed an open tender system like today to look for the right person. Phrase written on the central horizon tablet were Foguang-Puzhao (佛光普照) meaning Buddha's light vastly shines.įurther to the Relic Stupa for venerable Great Master Puji, Temple Longquan-si planned to build a marble arch way in year 1915-16. The four Chinese characters 峻凌霄汉(read as jun-ling-xiao-han) on the vertical plague placed under the roof eave at the central arch gate literally means a lofty mountain over the galaxy and the four words 妙通玄机 (read as miao-tong-xuan-ji) at the reversed plague has a meaning of something like cleverly versed with abstruse mysteries. The square base top of the external two pillars were carved with 20 over lions in various postures and the sides of its stone base were carried with beautiful dragon designs. The Arch Gate has four square pillars and 8 slanting columns and all of them were carved with coiling dragons. The carved contents at both sides of the arch include flowers, peach, persimmon, brushes, duster, paper fan, mirror and books. The complicated yet vivid carving at the central arch were two dragons guarding a pearl with another two dragons flew up at the clouds. The project began in year 1923 and completed in autumn of year 1930.Īccording to introduction, there are 108 dragons and innumerable birds, fish, flowers, kinds of animals and people that were sophistical engraved on the white marble arch gate. It was done by more than 100 artisans lead by a young stone carving expert from Dingxiang County (定襄县) named Hu-Mingzhu (胡明珠). Longquan-si Front Marble Arch Gate is an incredible piece of prestigious work. It is a true sparse arts treasure of today. All carved forms and shapes were closed to realistic. The whole structures were made from white marble stone and fully carved with designs of contents like dragons, lions, birds, human beings, flowers, plants and many other items. The magnificent Arch Gate of Longquan-si has three entrances and four supporting pillars. It was such a subtle arrangement to have all buildings constructed in accordance to its natural landscape. It has three individual Entrance Gate Doors that lined up horizontally in front of the site and yet are inter connected through small arch way from court to court. The set up of building structure of Longquan-si is quite different from other temples in Wutaishan. Similar to other temples in Wutaishan, Longquan-si also has to climb the 108 steps that links its Wall Screen to The Marble Arch Gate and its main site that lies 1700 meter above sea level. It was believed that all human have 108 disturbing annoyance and misery in life and climbing the steep steps of a temple site is one of the ways to get rid of them. The Wall Screen, Marble Arch Gate and Master Puji's Stupa are the three arts treasure of Longquan-si. The temple site that built with 165 structures within its three courts, faces west and covers a total land area of 15900sq.ft. ![]() ![]() It was originally an Ancestral temple for family of General Yang (杨家将). The Temple was first built in Song Dynasty (1254-1324), restored in Ming (1368-1644) and expanded during late Qing Dynasty in late 20th century. ![]() Dragon Spring Temple Longquan-si (龙泉寺) was named after the spring found near the site, and as it is situated at the mid ranges of Mountain Jiulong-Gang, it is also known as Nine-Dragon Ridge (九龙岗).
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