Tianning Yongzuo Temple, Haiyan, Zhejiang

Tianning Temple was built in the Han Dynasty and was then called Chanyue Temple. In the fourth year of the Chongning period of the Song Dynasty (1105), it was granted the name "Tianning Yongzuo Temple" by imperial edict, and was abbreviated as Tianning Temple. The temple has a Buddha Hall, a mountain gate, and a Guanyin Hall. In 1334, due to the tide approaching Haiyan, Master Fanqi proposed to build the Zhenhai Pagoda. The pagoda was started on September 23 in the third year of the Zhizhi period (1337), and it took 29 years to complete. After that, Master Fanqi proposed to build a Buddha Pavilion in the third year of the Dali period of the Tang Dynasty (768), and named it Dabian Pavilion. The majestic scale of Tianning Temple was basically formed. Tianning Temple is symmetrical from south to north along the central axis. Starting from Wuqiu Pond, there is a stone archway, and then a memorial archway. Entering the mountain gate is the Mahavira Hall, behind which is the taller Thousand Buddha Pavilion, and passing through the Thousand Buddha Pavilion is the towering Zhenhai Pagoda. After several vicissitudes, the Mahavira Hall and the Vajra Hall in front of the pavilion were demolished in October 1979 and May 1980 respectively. Now only part of the Thousand Buddha Pavilion and Zhenhai Pagoda remain. The Zhenhai Pagoda was built in the Yuan Dynasty, and its height and architectural style are the best in the surrounding areas. The pagoda has seven sides and eight floors, and is 24 zhang high. It is extremely magnificent and is praised by all walks of life in Jiangnan. Later, in the eighth year of the Kangxi period, the pagoda was accidentally destroyed by fire, and only the core of the pagoda remained. Monk Juehai rebuilt it in the sixteenth year of the Kangxi period, and it took eight years to complete the restoration. During the War of Resistance Against Japan, it was hit by artillery fire twice, and the pagoda was severely damaged, especially the fifth and sixth floors, causing the entire pagoda to tilt to the southwest. On August 1, 1956, due to a strong typhoon, the pagoda was blown down, and in order to ensure the safety of the surrounding residents, the top three floors had to be demolished in 1960. 48 (sets) of cultural relics and nearly 370 ancient coins, several Zhenhai coins, and five boxes of scriptures were unearthed in the pagoda, including the Ashoka Pagoda, jade Buddha, jade bi, bronze bell, crystal ruyi, and scriptures. Zhenhai Pagoda is one of the only remaining Yuan Dynasty pagodas in northern Zhejiang, and has high historical, scientific, and artistic value. It was restored in 2006. Zhenhai Pagoda and Thousand Buddha Pavilion are both key cultural relics protection units in Zhejiang Province.