Suzhou Hanshan Temple: The spiritual echo of the origin of Zen poetry

Hanshan Temple is located in Fengqiao Town in the western suburbs of Suzhou City. It is located on the bank of the Grand Canal and has an ancient bridge. It was founded in the Tianjian period of Emperor Wu of Liang in the Southern Dynasty when Buddhism was prevalent, from about 502 to 519. It was originally named "Miaoli Puming Pagoda Courtyard". Later, it was renamed Hanshan Temple because the Tang Dynasty poets Hanshan and Shi De lived in seclusion here and preached Buddhism to save the world.

Hanshan Temple is famous for its poems. Since the famous line "Hanshan Temple outside Gusu City, the bell sound reaches the passenger ship at midnight" in the poem "Night Mooring at Fengqiao" by Tang Dynasty poet Zhang Ji, it has become a spiritual symbol of the poetic Jiangnan. The culture of Hanshan Temple is not only about the echo of the bell, but also deeply rooted in a Tang Dynasty hermit poet monk Hanshanzi. More than 300 poems by Hanshan have been passed down to this day. Their style is simple and sincere, and their artistic conception is profound. They are regarded as the source of "Zen poetry" and have become a place for the souls of ancient and modern literati to rest.

At dawn, I walked alone into the stone path leading to Hanshan Temple. The air was filled with the coolness of the drizzle. The stone bricks glowed softly in the dim light, like the ink strokes carved by the years, outlining the quiet journey step by step. Not far from the main hall, the bell sounded slowly. It was not an ordinary knock, but a Buddhist chanting ceremony blended with verses; the bell sound was not just a sound, but also a pure stream of Dharma sound, purifying the soul.

The bell sound passed through the Puming Pagoda, Hanshi Hall, the Ancient Monument Corridor, Jiangfeng Tower, and Fengqiao, and finally fell into the heart of the soul-mates, stirring up a circle of ripples. The bell sound is not an external musical ritual, but an inner awakening, reaching the clear mind and returning to the source of Bodhi. The bell sound and ripples together constitute a kind of spiritual Zen, arousing our deep awareness, and perhaps also with the spiritual echo of "hearing the bell sound, troubles are relieved, wisdom grows, and Bodhi increases", which can give the soul gentle settlement and comfort.

#Night mooring at Fengqiao
#Hearing the bell, worries are relieved
#Miaoli Puming Pagoda
#Zen poetry
#Spiritual healing attractions
#Buddhist architectural aesthetics
#Spatial art

Post by 悦冬 | Jul 28, 2025