Guoqing Temple of the Sui Dynasty

Guoqing Temple is located in Chengguan Town, Tiantai County, Taizhou City, Zhejiang Province. It was first built in the 18th year of the Kaihuang era of the Sui Dynasty (598 AD). Initially named Tiantai Temple, it was later renamed Guoqing Temple, meaning 'If the temple is completed, the country will be clear.' The temple covers an area of 73,000 square meters. During the Sui Dynasty, the eminent monk Zhiyue founded the Tiantai Sect at Guoqing Temple, making it the birthplace of the Tiantai Sect of Chinese Buddhism, with influence extending both domestically and internationally. When Jianzhen crossed the sea to the east, he once paid homage to Guoqing Temple. The Japanese monk Saicho studied at Tiantai Mountain, learning from Daosui. After returning to Japan, he built Enryakuji Temple on Mount Hiei and founded the Japanese Tiantai Sect, later venerating Guoqing Temple on Tiantai Mountain in Zhejiang as the ancestral temple.