Gaoming Temple
Gaoming Temple is a Buddhist temple located in Tiantai County, Zhejiang, China. It is a traditional temple of Tiantai Buddhism.
History
The temple traces its origins to the former "Youxi Daochang", founded by Tiantai master Zhiyi in the 6th century, and would later become the "Gaoming Temple" in the Tianyou period of the Tang dynasty.In 936, in the 3rd year of Qingtai period in the Later Tang dynasty, the temple was renamed "Zhizhe Youxi Tayuan"
In 1008, in the 1st year of Dazhong Xiangfu period in the Song dynasty, the name was changed into "Jingming Temple".
In 1606, in the reign of Wanli Emperor in the Ming dynasty, master Youxi Chuandeng became the abbot of the temple, which was in a state of total disrepair. He worked hard to reconstruct the temple and revive Tiantai Buddhism. With patronage from scholar-official Feng Kaizhi and lay devotee Zhao Hainan, Chuandeng led the reconstruction of the main halls, meditation quarters, and altars, commissioned new Buddha statues and carvings, and added 29 acres of temple land. To commend his contribution, he had been honored as "Rebirth of Zhiyi".
In 1926, abbot Guantong restored the Hall of Ksitigarbha, Drum tower and Hall of Four Heavenly Kings.
The modern temple was founded in 1980. In 1981, under the support of overseas Chinese Xia Jingshan and Zhou Qinli, abbot Juehui refurbished and redecorated the temple.
Gaoming Temple has been designated as a National Key [Buddhist Temples in Han Chinese Area|National Key Buddhist Temple in Han Chinese Area] by the State Council of the [People's Republic of China|State Council of China] in 1983.