Jingci Temple

Jingci Temple (Chinese: 净慈寺) is located at the foot of Huiri Peak of Nanping Hill. It is the second prominent Buddhist temple around West Lake. Together with Lingyin Temple, it is called the jewel of the southern and northern hills. The temple was claimed as a national key Buddhist temple in Han's area by state council in 1983.

History

Jingci Temple was initially called "Huiri Yongming Temple"(慧日永明院).It was first built in AD 954 by Qian Hongji (钱弘俶) of Wuyue Dynastry for a famous monk Yong Ming(永明). In South Song Dynasty, its name was changed to Jingci Temple, and the 500 Luohan Hall was built. The temple was destroyed and rebuilt several times in the history. The majority of present temple was built in 1980's. Specially, there is a newly forged copper bell, weighing over 100 Kilograms. On it carved The Lotus Sutra(妙法莲花经), with 68,000 characters.

It hosts one of Ten Scenes of West Lake, "Evening Bell Ringing at the Nanping Hill"(南屏晚钟).