The Temple of Joyful Dharma is one of the three temples on Mount Tianzhu

The three temples on Mount Tianzhu in Hangzhou are famous and collectively known as the Upper Tianzhu Temple of Joyful Dharma, the Middle Tianzhu Temple of Pure Dharma, and the Lower Tianzhu Temple of Dharma Mirror (also known as the Upper, Middle, and Lower Tianzhu Temples), all of which are ancient temples of Hangzhou. The three Tianzhu temples have a close history, adjacent locations, similar teachings, and shared fortunes and declines, historically acclaimed as the 'Buddhist Kingdom of Tianzhu'. The Lingyin Temple and the various peaks of Tianzhu are collectively called 'Wulin Mountain'. According to the 'Geography Records' of the 'Book of Han': 'There is Wulin Mountain in Qiantang, where the Wulin water originates.' The 'Ling Mountain Records' states: 'During the Song Dynasty, the land was designated, with the south of Feilai Peak as Tianzhu and the north of Feilai Peak as Lingyin. Since the northern foothill was the Lingjiu Temple, the peak was named differently.' The construction of the temples in Hangzhou that spread Buddhism is all related to the Indian monk Hui Li. The 'Mount Tianzhu Records' states: 'At the beginning of the Xianhe period of the Eastern Jin Dynasty, Hui Li came to Lingyin to establish his staff, and upon ascending Wulin Mountain, he exclaimed: 'This is but a small ridge of the spiritual vulture mountain of the central Tianzhu country, in what year did it fly here?' Hence, the mountain was named 'Tianzhu', and the peak was called 'Feilai'; later generations called the temples built on the south of the peak 'Tianzhu Temples', divided into Upper, Middle, and Lower Tianzhu, with Hui Li becoming the founding patriarch of Lingyin and Tianzhu. The Lower Tianzhu was founded the earliest, with more than 1660 years of history, and even the latest founded Upper Tianzhu Temple has a history of a thousand years. During the Qing Dynasty, Emperor Qianlong named the Upper, Middle, and Lower Tianzhu as 'Temple of Joyful Dharma', 'Temple of Pure Dharma', and 'Temple of Dharma Mirror', and personally inscribed the temple plaques. From Upper Tianzhu, one can go east to Longjing, south to Langdang Ridge, connect to Wuyun Mountain on the left, and reach Meijiawu at the bottom. The Upper Tianzhu Temple of Joyful Dharma was built in the fourth year of Tianfu of the Later Jin Dynasty (939), where the monk Dao Yi built a hut under Baiyun Peak, becoming the founding patriarch of Upper Tianzhu. During the Qing Dynasty, Emperor Qianlong bestowed the name 'Temple of Joyful Dharma'. It was rebuilt in the twenty-fourth year of Guangxu (1898). Two major renovations took place in 1985 and 1991. Now the temple is the largest among the three Tianzhu temples. Renovation and restoration began in 2006. The architecture is majestic and the layout is solemn. In addition to the main hall, the temple has the Suyi Pavilion, Night Lecture Hall, Baiyun Hall, Liangfeng Hall, Xuepo Pavilion, etc. Around the temple are scenic spots such as Baiyun Peak, Baiyun Spring, Rudou Peak, and Rudou Spring. Baiyun Peak's Baiyun tea was once a famous West Lake tea tribute during the Southern Song Dynasty. During the Yuan You period of the Song Dynasty, Su Dongpo served as the prefect of Hangzhou and visited several times, leaving behind poems such as 'Rainy Visit to Tianzhu Linggan Guanyin Temple'. Song Dynasty figures like Zhu Xi, Lu Zuqian, Dai Fugu, Yuan Dynasty figures like Zhao Mengfu, Ni Zan, and others all have poems about their visits to Upper Tianzhu. The poem 'Returning to the Court and Passing by Upper Tianzhu Temple' by the Song Dynasty hero Yue Fei, who fought against the Jin Dynasty, is particularly inspiring and magnificent. The temple now has a main hall and auxiliary rooms such as dining halls and guest halls, a large copper bell weighing 5.5 tons, and the rebuilt Hall of Heavenly Kings and rear hall. In front of the Wuguan Hall of the Temple of Joyful Dharma, there is an ancient magnolia tree from the Ming Dynasty, which is 500 years old. The average canopy spread of the old tree is 7.5 meters, with a height of 12 meters and a chest circumference of 280 centimeters. The trunk is thick and covered with moss, and the canopy is wide, covering the entire courtyard. The flowering period of the ancient magnolia is quite short, blooming in early March each year, normally lasting about 7 to 10 days, but if it rains, the period is even shorter, about 3 to 5 days. I regretfully missed the flowering period when I visited. Walking to the higher parts of the temple, I saw many girls taking photos, with professional photographers taking pictures for them, and it is said that this place is a popular photo spot. I casually took a few photos overlooking the temple buildings embraced by the mountains, and indeed, the view was beautiful. Bus 103 can be taken to get close to the three Tianzhu temples, which is very convenient.