| Temple of the Azure Clouds (Biyunsi) |
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The principal building in the third courtyard is the Hall of Bodhisattvas.
The two roofed corridors that once stood here have fallen into decay.
The buildings in the fourth courtyard consist of the Rear Hall
and its auxiliary halls, all of which are laid out in an orderly
and harmonious manner. This complex now serves as the Sun Yat-sen
Memorial Hall. Behind this is a stone memorial archway, which leads
to the Diamond Throne Pagoda.
The principal building in the western courtyard is the Hall of
the Arhats, designed in the form of a Greek cross. There are altogether
500 gilded wooden images and seven Buddha mages crowded in to the
hall. Each of these fine specimens of Qing Dynasty woodcarving has
its own individual personalities and expressions.
In addition to these life-sized images, there is also a miniature
statue of Jigong in the hall. Nut rather than sitting on a pedestal
among his fellows, he is found perching on an overhead beam. The
legend tells that having arrived late, he was unable to find a seat
among the other immortals.
In the northern part of the compound are the Spring Garden, the
Azure Hall of Study and the Eyeglasses Pond. In the Spring Garden
on the western side of the temple, underground streams from a mountain
spring can be seen gushing out of the crevices in the rocks. Rocks,
pavilions, pines and cypresses embellish the spot, making it ideal
for relaxation and meditation. |
