Ximing monastery, (in) Xi'an, Shaanxi, CN

Raw data

"Xi Ming Monastery (Chinese: 西明寺; pinyin: xi ming si, also romanized Hsi-ming-ssu) is a famous monastery located in Chang'an, the capital of Tang Dynasty in Chinese history. The Temple is located in Chang'an, current day Xi'an, which was located at the eastern terminus of the Silk Road, and placed within a cosmopolitan metropolis. Ximing was established by Tang Gaozong in 656.[1] It was at Ximing that pilgrim and traveller Xuanzang (602-664) had translated the scriptures he had brought back from India. Another traveller Yijing (635-713) also based himself at Ximing while working on translations of Indian scriptures. Indian scholar monk Shubhākarasimha, was responsible for the introduction of the Mahavairocana Sutra and the tantric traditions associated with it. Japanese monk, Kukai studied Sanskrit there under the tutelage of Gandharan pandit Prajñā (734-810?) who had been educated at the Indian Buddhist university at Nalanda. Ximing was celebrated for its library which was the most comprehensive library of Buddhist texts in China at the time. Woncheuk (613–696) (Chinese Yuáncè) was a Korean Buddhist monk, also known as Ximing fashi (西明法师) after the name of this temple where he did most of his important work.[2]
References
Poceski, Mario (2007). Ordinary mind as the way: the Hongzhou school and the growth of Chan Buddhism. Oxford University Press. pp. 60. ISBN 0-19-531996-6.
"Xi Ming Temple - Chinese Buddhist Temple". Retrieved 18 January 2011."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xi_Ming_Temple

"Ximing Temple, temple name, located in the southwest corner Yankang Square [Yankang ward], Chang'an City the former Sui Quan Chen salicin house, accounting quarter of Yankang Place, an area of 12.2 hectares, is the largest monastery in the records."
http://www.hudong.com/wiki/%E8%A5%BF%E6%98%8E%E5%AF%BA

"Hsi-ming-ssu
[西明寺] (PY Ximingsi; Jpn Saimyo-ji)
A temple built in Ch'ang-an, China, in 658 at the command of Emperor Kao-tsung of the T'ang dynasty. It was founded by Hsüan-tsang and modeled, according to tradition, after Jetavana Monastery in India. The temple produced many eminent priests, including Tao-sui, who studied there."
http://www.sgilibrary.org/search_dict.php?id=1018

A Digital Reconstruction of Tang Chang'an [esp. a map showing the placement of Buddha Hall in Ximing Temple]
http://www.sde.nus.edu.sg/changan/0925level2_foguang.htm

"In 881, Chang'an was occupied by Huang Chao. In 882, Chang'an was taken back by Tang dynasty, however, the Tang forces, although welcomed by the inhabitants, looted Chang'an before driven back by the forces of Huang Chao shortly afterward. As revenge, Huang Chao conducted a slaughter after taking Chang'an back. Chang'an was finally taken back by the Tang government in 883. In 904, Zhu Quanzhong demolished buildings and moved the capital to Luoyang. The residents together with the emperor Zhaozong were also forced to move to Luoyang. Chang'an never recovered after the apex of the Tang dynasty, but there are still some monuments from the Tang era that are still standing."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chang'an

Input by: tmciolek, Oct 23, 2012

Final data (and their sources)

Last updated: 18 May 2015

Lat/Long coordinates' accuracy:
The monastery in question is assumed to be situated actually no farther than 200 m from the point defined by the coordinates below.

Location of Xi Ming monastery, CN.

General location of the Xi Ming monastery, CN.
Lat 34.26318 Long 108.93000
Mapping & images: Falling Rain Genomics (http://www.fallingrain.com), 2012.


Google Map link:

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=34.26318+108.93000+(Approx.%20loc.%20of%20the%20Xi%20Ming%20monastery,%20CN)&ll=34.26318,108.93000&spn=05.0,05.0&t=k&hl=en

Final data - explanatory notes

1. Monastery's name

2. Monastery's modern country & province

  • China:Shaanxi Sheng

3. Monastery's alternative/historical names

4. Monastery's lat/long coordinates

  • Approx., Lat 34.26318 Long 108.93000 - based on visual identification of the whereabouts site in satellite imagery, maps.google.com (while being guided by the placement of Buddha Hall in Ximing Temple - http://www.sde.nus.edu.sg/changan/0925level2_foguang.htm) - tmciolek, 24 Oct 2012.
  • Please note that the above location of the ancient monastery of XI Ming (situated in the Chang'an/Xian city) should not be confused with that of a newer monastery, also called Xi Ming (situated near the city in the close vicinity of Lat 34.05611 and Long 108.65285) - tmciolek, 24 Oct 2012).

5. Other known nearby Buddhist monasteries

6. Modern name of the known nearest city, town, or village

7. The settlement's alternative/historical names

8. The settlement's coordinates

9. Monastery's major Buddhist tradition

  • Mahayana

10. Monastery's Buddhist sub-tradition

  • [missing data]

11. Date-early

  • Est. in 658 at the command of Emperor Kao-tsung of the T'ang dynasty. It was founded by Hsüan-tsang (=Xuanzang) and modeled, according to tradition, after Jetavana Monastery in India. The temple produced many eminent priests, including Tao-sui, who studied there." http://www.sgilibrary.org/search_dict.php?id=1018

MBM chrono-tag 0633-66c - tmciolek 28 Jul 2014
0633-66c 0667-99c 0700-32c 0733-66c 0767-99c 0800-32c 0833-66c 0867-99c dated-el

12. Date-intermediate

13. Date-late

MBM chrono-tag 0867-99c - tmciolek 28 Jul 2014

14. Details of contacts with other monasteries

  • Through the monk Kukai there is a link to Koyasan monastery in Japan.

15. Type of evidence regarding the monastery

  • [missing data]

16. Additional notes

  • [missing data] (incl. details of the size of the monastic population)

17. Corrections & addenda to this page were kindly provided by

  • [missing data]

18. Available Printed Literature

  • [bibliographical details of the Book/Article 1]
  • [bibliographical details of the Book/Article 2]
  • [bibliographical details of the Book/Article 3]

end of page

0633-66c0667-99c0700-32c0733-66c0767-99c0800-32c0833-66c0867-99c200mchinadated-eleast-asialibraryplacetrad.mahayanatranslatoriumven.kukaiven.prajnaven.shubhakarasimhaven.taosuiven.woncheukven.xuanzangven.yijingx
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