Located three miles east of the Zhi Zhe Pagoda, Gaoming Temple is situated on the hillside of the Fo Long Mountain, surrounded by peaks and embraced by a quiet stream. It is one of the twelve ancient monasteries on Tiantai Mountain founded by Master Zhi Zhe.
The temple was first established during the Tang Dynasty, initially named Youxi Daochang, Youxi Chanyuan, and Jingming Temple. The existing structures were rebuilt during the Wanli era of the Ming Dynasty. The temple is abundant in Buddhist scriptures and cultural relics, with the plaques ‘Gaoming Lecture Temple’ and ‘Mahavira Hall’ both written by Kang Youwei.
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The entire temple complex consists of more than 10 halls and over 200 rooms, with majestic and elegant architecture. The main buildings include the Hall of the Heavenly Kings, the Mahavira Hall, the Ksitigarbha Hall, and the Western Hall.
To the east of the temple stands a bell tower, housing a copper bell weighing 5,000 jin. When struck, the bell’s sound echoes through the mountains and valleys, audible for miles around. Therefore, it is known as one of the four wonders of Tiantai Mountain temples, along with ‘Pagoda Wind, Gaoming Bell, Ten-thousand-year Pillar, and Guoqing Pine.’
East of the temple, there is a pavilion called Youxi Pavilion, inscribed with the word ‘Youxi,’ which is the handwriting of Master Zhi Zhe. Opposite the pavilion, a large rock spans the sky, supported by four stones, forming a cave named ‘Yuantong Cave,’ hidden among the forests.
Near the cave, there are many cliff inscriptions, with a large ‘Buddha’ character on the northern cliff, measuring 7 meters in diameter. The temple is also surrounded by scenic spots such as Xianggu Rock, Lingxiang Rock, and Jinzi Rock.
The temple is open all year round from 09:00 to 17:00.