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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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