White
Horse Temple
The White Horse
Temple, 12 kilometers east of downtown
Luoyang, was the first temple built
in 68 A. D. , the 11th year during
the reign of Emperor Yongping of the
Eastern Ran Dynasty (25-220) after
the introduction of Buddhism to China.
As legend has it, the Buddhist scriptures
were carried by a white horse, hence
the name. Covering an area of 40,
000 square .meters, the temple has
Qiyun Pagoda erected in the Jin Dynasty
(1115-1234) , a pair of sculptured
white horses, the tombs of eminent
monks from India, pagodas to enshrine
Buddhist sutras, stone tablets carved
in the Yuan and Ming dynasties (1271-1644)
and bell tower. On New Year's Eve,
the bell in the temple chimes to welcome
the New Year.
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