Read Novel Full Chapter 2023: Dahuguo Temple (Part 1)
Chapter 2023: Chapter 2023: Dahuguo Temple (Part 1)
Dahuguo Temple is located on Scenic Mountain in the north suburb of Beijing. The entire Scenic Mountain is not very high, but the scenery is extremely beautiful, with all kinds of trees in abundance.
Scenic Mountain is situated in a lake, this lake is called Scenic Lake, and it’s filled with Hehua.
Spring sees peaches and apricots competing for beauty, summer has Hehua reflecting the sun, autumn is full of red maple leaves, and winter sees Lamei rivaling the snow.
One could say Dahuguo Temple is picturesque all year round, constantly attracting scholars, poets, and talented artists in pairs. However, this is a royal temple and is not always open to the public, but whenever it is open, it is usually overcrowded.
Yang Ruxin and Du Juan dismounted at the lakeside and found it bustling with people. They had not made prior arrangements and were unsure if they could get a vegetarian meal at noon.
"Are you Benefactor Yang?" Before Yang Ruxin even got on the bridge, a Little Monk approached, saluting Yang Ruxin with his hands clasped.
"Yes, that’s me." Yang Ruxin raised an eyebrow slightly.
"My Master has been waiting for you for some time now." The Little Monk smiled gently, then made a gesture of invitation.
"Who is your Master? How do they know I would come?" Yang Ruxin frowned.
"My Master is Master Puji, the abbot of Dahuguo Temple." The Little Monk did not pretend to be mysterious, "He predicted that the Benefactor would come today and asked this humble monk to wait here for you."
Yang Ruxin exchanged a glance with Du Juan, then followed quickly, feeling a bit of anticipation for Master Puji as he seemed quite formidable.
After crossing a not very long stone bridge, they reached the foot of the mountain. Here, an enclosed pool hosted a Dripping Water Guanyin statue, approximately five or six meters high, made of white jade, stepping on a lotus pedestal, and holding a clean bottle.
Going around the Guanyin statue led to stone steps, reportedly 108 in total, with lotus pedestals carved on the steps, and the white jade railings on both sides carved with 108 Arhat statues.
In the middle, there is a platform where a white jade railing encloses a ginkgo tree said to be a thousand years old. This platform was also built for this tree, reportedly over thirty meters tall, with a trunk circumference of eight meters.
The railings around the tree are hung with red ropes and sachets.
"This tree is the sacred tree of our Dahuguo Temple," the Little Monk proudly introduced, "Everyone entering the temple will first worship this tree. Over there, Auspicious Ropes are sold..."
"Your commercial practice is doing quite well." Yang Ruxin looked at the stall, where it was also watched by a Little Monk, with each red rope costing two wen, a Wooden Plaque hanging from it on which the name of the wisher can be written on the spot.
"My Master said that living in Beijing is not easy, so if we don’t find a way to earn some Silver, life will be difficult," the Little Monk frankly stated, "Moreover, such things cater to the public’s sentiments, this is much more affordable than lighting an Everlasting Lamp."
Yang Ruxin blinked her eyes, then gave a thumbs up, feeling as if the Master was quite a jokester?
After each hanging an Auspicious Rope with Du Juan, they continued to follow the Little Monk upwards. At the top of the steps was the mountain gate. Dahuguo Temple’s mountain gate was not much different from other temples. Initially, there was the mountain gate, with the two Heng Ha Erjiang enshrined on both sides, and on both sides, there were the Bell Tower and Gu Building. Going further in, there was the first main hall, the Hall of Heavenly Kings. Behind it was the main hall, Daxiong Baodian, and further back was the Cangjing Building and various monk’s residences, appearing much smaller compared to Hangzhou’s Lingyin Temple.