| |
| |
Nanping Hill extends its wooded slopes and limestone cliffs like a
picturesque screen on the southern side of the West Lake, hence the
name. The limestone crags are steep with niches and pores. At the
foot of the hill is the |
Jingci Temple where bells toll accompanying
Buddhist ceremonies.
The metallic sound is wafted afar and the soul-touching low-pitched
echoes reverberate over the wide expanse of the West Lake. As dusk
descends to envelop the landscape, the ringing sounds penetrate the
twilight moments over the lake and make listeners cast away their
worldly concerns and lose themselves in pensive meditations. The scenery,
the touching moment, and the bells were combined into the Evening
Bells at the Nanping Hill, and became the first tourist attraction
poetically named around the lake.
Erected in the Wu-Yue Kingdoms Period, the Jingci Buddhist Monastery
used to be as famous as the Lingyin Temple across the lake in the
past. It later became one of Zen sect's five major sanctuaries in
the South Song Dynasty. The temple used to have a hall of 500 Arhats,
the first and only one in China. Many famed Buddhist monks used to
stay in the monastery. The Caodong Sect, a quite popular Buddhist
sect in Japan, originated in the Jingci Temple. The Bell Pavilion,
a two-storied highly decorated affair, houses a two-ton bell in stationary
suspension. Nowadays, local people and overseas pilgrims gather in
front of the Bell Pavilion on the eve of lunatic New Year. This ceremony
is held to say farewell to the previous year and usher in the New
Year. When the last strike of the 108 sounds rings, the vibrating
pitch marks the beginning of a new year. In this way, the ancient
bell gives out new sound for the ever-growing new era. |
|
