When can you visit Jinghai Temple in Nanjing?
Nanjing Jinghai Temple opening hours: 8:30-17:00, normally open on Saturdays and Sundays
Nanjing Jinghai Temple attractions introduction:
Nanjing Jinghai Temple , was the place where the Treaty of Nanjing was negotiated. With the completion of the expansion project of the ancient temple, the Jinghai Temple, which has gone through many vicissitudes of life, will welcome the return of Hong Kong with a new look.
Sihai Jingbo Jiangu Temple Jinghai Temple is located at the Chaoyue Tower on Rehe Road at the southwest foot of Lion Rock outside Xingzhong Gate of Xiaguan. Its construction originated from Zheng He's voyages to the West in the Ming Dynasty.
There are two theories about when Jinghai Temple was built. One theory is that it was built by Emperor Chengzu of the Ming Dynasty. When Zheng He returned to China (1411) from his third voyage to the West (1409, the seventh year of Yongle), Zhu Di, the founder of the Ming Dynasty, praised Zheng He for his great national strength and the great achievements of the Ming Dynasty. In order to worship the Arhat portraits, Buddha's teeth, and jade objects brought back by Zheng He, rare and exotic tree species such as Xifu Begonia were planted, and Jinghai Temple was built.
In recent years, Yan Zhong has questioned this theory and believes that Jinghai Temple is the site of Emperor Renzong of the Ming Dynasty. In the first year of Hongxi, when Zheng He was guarding Nanjing, he built it and named it "Jinghai" for the "holy virtue of Emperor Zhao Taizong" because it was Zhu Di who "ordered (Zheng He) to sail". As for the theory of "Chengzu's imperial edict", Yan Zhong believes that it is due to the misunderstanding of local chronicles of previous dynasties by some chroniclers from the late Qing Dynasty to the present. Ming Chengzu died in 1424 after Zheng He returned from his six voyages to the West. After Zhu Gaochi, Emperor Renzong of the Ming Dynasty, succeeded to the throne, he seemed to be less enthusiastic about sending ships out than Chengzu, so Zheng He was appointed as the garrison of Nanjing. Regardless of whether Jinghai Temple was built at this time, Zheng He lived in Jinghai Temple at this time.
When it was first built, Jinghai Temple was large in scale, with the main hall and the Heavenly King, Zhengfo, Guanyin, Jialan, Lunzang, Maitreya, Patriarch and other palaces are surrounded by buildings and landscapes such as Bell Tower, Jing Pavilion, Guanyin Pavilion, Huayan Tower, Wanxian Pavilion, Sansu Rock, etc., together with the abbot's room and monk's room, covering an area of more than 20,000 square meters. The Chongdian is towering Green, flying pavilion and soaring pills, full of sight, magnificent and spectacular. In the mid-16th century, Li Shizhen compiled "Compendium of Materia Medica" and traveled around the world. He once inspected overseas medicinal materials such as frankincense, myrrh, and blood root at Jinghai Temple. Jinghai Temple, known as the "Crown of Jinling Temples", can be said to be famous in history at this time, and its honor is very great.
Jinghai Temple, the place where the "Treaty of Nanjing" was negotiated, had its glorious period, but when history entered modern Chinese society , but it suffered great shame and humiliation. The first unequal treaty in Chinese history, the Treaty of Nanjing, was negotiated here.
In June 1840, the British colonists launched a war of aggression against our country to protect the dirty opium smuggling. . The patriotic army and people gave the invaders a head-on blow, but Emperor Daoguang was hesitant and insisted on seeking peace. In order to meet their unreasonable demands of forcing China to cede territory, pay indemnities, and trade, the British army invaded north from the coast of Zhejiang in June 1842. On August 10, more than 10,000 invaders led by British Minister Plenipotentiary Henry Pottinger and Navy Commander Baga took more than 70 ships and invaded the Caoxie Gorge area outside Xiaguanyi Fengmen in Nanjing. The rumbling sound of cannons cut through the tranquil river surface. Pu Dingcha used the threat of force and negotiation. On the one hand, he sent soldiers ashore to harass and rob the people, set up cannons, and threatened to attack Taiping Gate from Zhongshan; on the other hand, he said that the problem could be solved through negotiation.
Under the force of the British invaders, Emperor Daoguang appointed Hangzhou General Qiying and Zhapu Deputy Governor Yilibu as imperial envoys to negotiate in Nanjing. The negotiations were conducted in two stages. The first stage was from August 12 to 19. The representatives of both parties participating in the negotiations were at a lower level. On the morning of the 12th, Chinese representatives Sheng Jingzuo led Tafenbu, Zhang Xi and Chen Zhigang to the riverside first. The meeting on the ship was received by the British side, Morrison, Robert Downey, and Parkes. After sitting down on the ship, Morrison pointed out that the weather was hot and the seating area on the ship was narrow, which caused many inconveniences. There is Jinghai Temple not far from here, so why not go to the temple to discuss matters. Zhang Xi replied: "The Jinghai Temple may be unclean." Robo Tan then said: "The uncleanness in the temple is nothing more than dust. Just ask the monks to clean it." So Tafenbu and others went to Jinghai Temple to wait, and Ma Li After changing clothes, Xun and his party went to Jinghai Temple at 11 o'clock and held talks in the temple for three consecutive days.
The second stage of the negotiations was from August 20 to 29. China and the UK held a high-level meeting. On August 29, Qiying, Niu Jian and others boarded the British warship "Kanghuali" parked on the Xiaguan River and signed the "Treaty of Nanjing" which ceded territory, paid compensation, and humiliated the country. The treaty stipulated that Hong Kong would be ceded to the United Kingdom, and China would open five ports: Guangzhou, Fuzhou, Xiamen, Ningbo, and Shanghai, and pay an indemnity of 21 million taels of silver. On September 6, Emperor Daoguang ratified the treaty. The Qing court, which was obsessed with saving face, wrote "with the permission of the Qing Emperor" everywhere in the treaty, which is really laughable and generous. The Treaty of Nanjing was a heavy yoke placed on the Chinese nation by foreign invaders. It seriously damaged China's independence and sovereignty and opened the door for Western capitalist powers to enslave China.
After the signing of the treaty, Qiying and Iribu actually killed pigs and sheep in Jinghai Temple and held a banquet. To reward the British troops, they also sent wine and food as "comfort" to the British troops guarding the warships. Jinghai Temple has become a historical witness of the great humiliation suffered by the Chinese nation.
In the hundred years since the return of China, Jinghai Temple has gone through many vicissitudes. During the Xianfeng period of the Qing Dynasty (1851-1861) and during the Japanese occupation of Nanjing in December 1937, Nanjing was severely damaged by war. The main hall buildings were completely destroyed, leaving only ruins and a few monks' rooms.
Its rise and fall silently tell the story of the humiliation of the Chinese nation over the past century.
In 1986, in order to preserve this historical relic, the Nanjing Municipal People's Government decided to rebuild it in the style of a Ming Dynasty temple. A new main hall and main hall were built on the ruins, and the monks' rooms were restored, covering an area of 628 square meters. The reconstruction project was designed by Professor Pan Guxi, an expert on ancient architecture from Southeast University.
The restored Jinghai Temple was opened as the "Treaty of Nanjing" Historical Materials Exhibition Hall". In 1992, it was listed as a cultural relic protection unit in Nanjing and later became a patriotic education base. The content of the exhibition hall is divided into three parts: "The smoke moved north and the invaders entered the Yangtze River"; "The peace treaty was negotiated and the country was humiliated by losing power"; and "A hundred years of vicissitudes, never Don't forget the national humiliation", which records the history of the Opium War. The exhibition room displays 173 pictures, historical materials, photos and physical objects. The exhibition line is 50 meters long, including photos of the treaty signing and the full text of the Treaty of Nanjing. In 1996, on the first anniversary of the return of Hong Kong, people from all walks of life in Nanjing held commemorative activities at Jinghai Temple to wash away a century of shame and celebrate a glorious future. A countdown sign was erected in front of Jinghai Temple until the Chinese government resumed the exercise of sovereignty over Hong Kong. In November 1996, Jiangsu Province and the Nanjing Municipal Government planned to invest 3.05 million yuan to expand the total construction area of Jinghai Temple to 1,010 square meters, and set up five main and auxiliary exhibition halls behind the existing side hall to build a partial three-story Ming and Qing style. architecture. We also made models of the USS Cornwallis warship, the place where the treaty was signed, sand tables, wax figures, etc., and used sound, light, and electricity to enrich the exhibition of historical materials of the Treaty of Nanjing. We also displayed the 1050 Treaty of Nanjing that our country was forced to sign between 1842 and 1949. Multiple unequal treaties. The surrounding pavilions and pavilions connect the Southern Song Dynasty monuments next to the original temple - the "Sansu Cliff" left by Yu Yunwen, the famous anti-Jin Dynasty general, and the "Tianfei Palace Stele", one of the only two Ming Dynasty monuments left in Nanjing next to the original temple. , it was built as the Zheng He Memorial Hall, and the Lion Rock Yuejiang Tower behind the temple was integrated with it, making the Jinghai Temple site more concentrated. The expansion work is still presided over by Professor Pan Guxi. On July 1, 1997, Jinghai Temple will welcome the return of Hong Kong with a new look.
Zhongshan is speechless, and the Yangtze River testifies. The Jinghai Temple, which has gone through many vicissitudes of life, always reminds us: never Don't forget the national humiliation. , revitalize China.
In the small courtyard leading to the exit of the "Treaty of Nanjing" Historical Materials Exhibition Hall of Jinghai Temple, a large antique bronze bell hangs high. The rich and resonant bell has resounded throughout the country with modern media, and its simple and elegant shape has attracted the attention of millions of people through the TV screen. This bronze bell, made with donations from Nanjing university, middle and primary school students and people from all walks of life, aims to use the sound of the bell to warn people not to forget the century-old national humiliation of the Qing government's cession of Hong Kong, and to use the sound of the bell to inspire people to create a glorious future. Therefore, it is named "Warning Bell".
The bell is made entirely of bronze and weighs 3.5 tons. The appearance of the bell is imitating the Ming Dynasty style, simple and dignified, consistent with the architectural style of Jinghai Temple and harmonious with the courtyard environment. The height of the bell is 1.842 meters, which is intended to remind the world that the Treaty of Nanjing, the first unequal treaty in modern Chinese history, was negotiated at Jinghai Temple in 1842. There is a 7.1 centimeter-high fireball on the top of the bell, which means Hong Kong on July 1. Returning to the motherland; there are 12 peace doves cast on the shoulders of the bell, which symbolizes the eternal love of peace of the 1.2 billion Chinese people; there are two dragons on the skirt of the bell, which symbolize the Yangtze River and the Yellow River, the mother rivers of the Chinese nation, symbolizing that the descendants of Yan and Huang are dragons Between the two dragons is a blooming plum blossom, the city flower of Nanjing. It is the impact point of the bell. When it hits here, the majestic bell echoes over Jinghai Temple for a long time; a pattern surrounds the bell body, which means It reflects the unbroken blood relationship between Hong Kong and the motherland, and fully expresses the joyful feelings of hundreds of millions of people celebrating Hong Kong's return; on the back of the clock is engraved the eternal motto "Never forget the past, the teacher of the future" inscribed by the famous calligrapher Wu Zhongqi; the bell body On the front are engraved the three characters "Warning Bell" inscribed by Jiangsu Provincial Party Committee Secretary Chen Huanyou; on both sides of the bell are a 572-word inscription in Wei style, which records the coercive signing of the Treaty of Nanjing to Hong Kong in 1997. Returning to the vicissitudes of history of the motherland.