This temple
was initially built during the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368) and was taken
reconstruction during the Ming and Qing Dynasties. The interior buildings
almost retain the style of the Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644) completely.
The
temple was first built in the early 14th century and named the Nunnery
of the Azure Clouds. The temple was expanded in 1516 during the Ming
Dynasty and again in 1748 in the Qing dynasty under the reign of Emperor
Qianlong, who added the Hall of Arhats, containing 500 Buddha statues.
He also erected the main temple building, known as the Diamond Throne
Pagoda, a towering Indian "stupa" ringed with miniature stupas.
Even in modern days the temple has seen active use. When Dr. Sun Yat
Sen died in 1925 his coffin was briefly on display here before being
moved to Nanjing, but a permanent memorial hall remains at Azure Clouds.
At the
time of the founding of the People s Republic in 1949, the temple buildings
were in a state of disrepair. In 1954, the temple was rebuilt and renovated,
including the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall.
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