huyenkhongtu

8/14/2019 HuyenKhongTu

1/51

CHA HUYN KHNG

(Xuan Kong Si)

Ngi Cha Treo

(Hanging Buddhist Monastery)

Hnh nh ly t Google Earth

VGip thc hin


2/51

Xuan Kong Si : Hanging Chinese Buddhist MonasteryThe Hanging Temple is a temple built into a sheer cliff above

Jinlong Canyon, near Mount Heng in the province of Shanxi.


3/51

Its halls and pavilions are built along the contoursof the cliff face using the natural hollows and outcrops.

The buildings are connected by corridors, bridges and boardwalks.The closest city is Datong, 65 kilometers to the northwest.


4/51

Along with the Yungang Grottoes,

the Hanging Temple is one of the

main tourist attractions and historical

sites in the Datong area.


5/51

Built more than 1400 years ago, this temple is unique not onlyfor its location on a sheer precipice but also because it includes

Buddhist, Taoist, and Confucian elements.


6/51

Hanging Monastery, built in 491, has survived more than 1400 years.

The extant monastery was largely rebuilt and maintainedin the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).


7/51

How could a building like this withstand the winds and storms of so

many years? Hanging Monastery is an architectural wonder.

A unique mechanical theory was applied to building the framework.


8/51

Crossbeams were half-inserted into the rock as the

foundation, while the rock in back became its support.

Seen from below, Hanging Monastery appears

to be a tumble-down castle in the air.

Inside, Hanging Monastery provides thesame scene as other temples.


9/51

Construction experts from countries including Britain, Germany, and

Italy,

come to see the monastery. In their words, Hanging Monastery,


10/51


11/51

The monastery and everything it symbolizes embodies a

great cultural achievement of Chinese people.


12/51


13/51

The second attraction of Hanging Monastery is that it includes Buddhism,

Taoism and Confucianism. Inside the monastery, the sculptures of Sakyamuni,


14/51


15/51


16/51


17/51


18/51


19/51


20/51


21/51


22/51


23/51


24/51

There are 40 halls and cabinets which contain about 80 sculptures made of


25/51

There are 40 halls and cabinets, which contain about 80 sculptures made of

copper, iron, terracotta, and stone. The features are vividly carved.


26/51


27/51


28/51


29/51


30/51


31/51


32/51

Why build a monastery like this?

Location is the first reason; building a

monastery on the cliff could shield it

from floods.


33/51


34/51

In addition, the

mountain peak

protects it from rain

and snow; and themountain around it

also diminishes

damage from long-

time sunshine.


35/51

The second reason is that thebuilders followed a principle

in Taoism: no noises,

including those from roostercrowing and dog baying; sofrom the upper ground, all

noises drop away.


36/51


37/51


38/51


39/51


40/51


41/51


42/51


43/51


44/51


45/51


46/51


47/51


48/51


49/51


50/51



51/51


huyenkhongtu

Documents