A wonder of Buddhist engineering, this 1,400- year old marvel doesn’t just defy gravity, but the laws of  religion. Instead of an exclusive devotion to a single religion, the Hanging Monastery distinguishes itself from other temples by including homage to Taoism, Confucianism, as well as Buddhism. Inside the monastery, sculptures of Sakyamuni, Confucius and Laotzu appear together.
Built to shield it from floods, rain, sun and snow as well as to conform to Taoist religious principles evincing quiet, the monastery, originally erected in 491, was rebuilt and maintained by the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). Standing at the foot of Heng Shan (Mt. Heng, a mountain endowed with a wealth of temples, historic sites and natural beauty.) and 50 meters above the ground, the Hanging Monastery is a great place to start a day journey around Heng Shan itself. |
