White Horse Temple
White Horse Temple (Chinese: 白馬寺) is a Buddhist temple in Luoyang that, according to tradition, is the first Buddhist temple in China, having been first established in 68 AD under the patronage of Emperor Ming in the Eastern Han dynasty.
The site is just outside the walls of the ancient Eastern Han capital, some 12–13 kilometres (7.5–8.1 mi) east of Luoyang in Henan Province. The temple, although small in comparison to many others in China, is considered by many believers as "the cradle of Chinese Buddhism".
The main temple buildings, a large complex, were reconstructed during the Ming (1368 to 1644) and Qing (1644 to 1912) dynasties.
Significant statues include Shakyamuni Buddha, Maitreya, Amitābha, bodhisattvas and arhats and stone statues of the two white horses which brought the Indian monks to China and two mythical lions at the entrance.
External links
Media related to White Horse Temple at Wikimedia Commons
White Horse Temple, Wikipedia
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