“The First Temple of the Southern Dynasties” — Nanjing • Jiming Temple

Jiming Temple, located on the eastern slope of Jilong Mountain in Xuanwu District, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, is also known as Ancient Jiming Temple. It was first built in the first year of Yongkang in the Western Jin Dynasty (300 AD), with a history of more than 1,700 years. It is one of the oldest Buddhist temples and royal temples in Nanjing, with incense burning continuously. It has long been known as the “First Temple of the Southern Dynasties” and the leader of the “480 Temples of the Southern Dynasties.” During the Southern Dynasties, it was as famous as Qixia Temple and Dingshan Temple, being a Buddhist center in China during that period. The history of Jiming Temple can be traced back to Xuan Temple of Eastern Wu. The site of the temple was part of the rear garden of the Wu Kingdom during the Three Kingdoms period. In the first year of Yongkang in the Western Jin Dynasty (300 AD), a building was constructed on the mountain, establishing the first Taoist site. After the Eastern Jin Dynasty, this place was designated as the office of the Minister of Justice. In the first year of Datong in the Southern Liang Dynasty (527 AD), Emperor Wu of Liang built Tongtai Temple at Jimingdi, where he “sacrificed himself” four times and issued the “Prohibition of Alcohol and Meat” within the temple, initiating the Buddhist vegetarian tradition, making this place a true Buddhist holy land. When the Indian monk Bodhidharma came to Jiankang (now Nanjing), he resided here. During the Southern Tang Dynasty, it was renamed Jingju Temple and later Yuanji Temple. In the Song Dynasty, it was renamed Fabao Temple. In the 20th year of Hongwu in the Ming Dynasty (1387 AD), Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang ordered the reconstruction and expansion of the temple, and inscribed “Jiming Temple” himself. The current mountain gate archway “Jiming Temple” was inscribed by the famous calligrapher and former president of the Chinese Buddhist Association, Zhao Puchu. Today, Jiming Temple has gradually transformed from a place of incense worship to a nunnery for study and practice. The Prajna Corridor serves as a platform for promoting Buddhist teachings, and the nunnery’s Buddhist Academy is the first of its kind in Jiangsu. Moreover, Jiming Temple integrates mountains, water, forests, and temples, creating a very serene environment. “Jiming Spring Dawn” is one of the forty new scenic spots in Jinling. Jiming Temple