Mudu Ancient Town, easy-to-miss bridges and temples

Text and Pictures/Ying Zhigang

Mudu Ancient Town is located in the west of the ancient city of Suzhou, on the bank of Taihu Lake, at the foot of Lingyan Mountain, with a fragrant stream running from east to west, Yanjia Garden, Siphon Mountain House, Ancient Pine Garden and Bangyan Mansion Jiangnan Classical Garden run through it.

After the completion of Metro Line 5, I went to the ancient town more often. I took the bus in front of my house and got off at Lingyanshan Station, which was only a 500-meter walk.

I went shopping again yesterday and met a tour guide who led a small group and talked eloquently along the way.

After listening all the way, I suddenly felt something was wrong. The tour guide’s explanation was really cutting corners.

For example, the oldest bridge in this ancient town and the only temple in this ancient town.

After returning, I secretly wondered whether many tourists who had visited the ancient town had missed some allusions because of the tour guide’s “not following the process”?

So Bento did one thing and felt it necessary to introduce some scenic spots that are easily "ignored".

Let’s talk about Yongan Bridge first.

Standing in front of the Yanjia Garden, facing the Xiangxi River, there is a stone bridge covered with vines on the left, which is the Yongan Bridge.

Yong'an Bridge was built in the Ming Dynasty by Fu Chao, a doctor in the Ministry of Water Conservancy and River Engineering, in the 11th year of Hongzhi in the Ming Dynasty. It has been in existence for more than 500 years and is the oldest bridge remaining in Mudu Ancient Town.

This is a single-hole stone arch bridge made of granite. The four bluestone bridge pillars and the eight long-cut stones that run through the bridge palace are connected like rectangular hoops, thus strengthening the strength of the arch.

The bridge heads are all engraved with the Chinese characters "A Hand of Lotus", with neat patterns and fine carvings.

There are 16 stone steps on the west slope and 19 on the east slope. The top plate of the bridge deck is engraved with patterns. Due to the damage caused by pedestrians passing by all year round, the content is difficult to identify.

The words "According to the constitution, releasing animals into Guanhe River, and prohibiting harvesting" are still clearly visible in the arch circle.

The Yong'an Bridge has a simple appearance. The bridge body is covered with kudzu, and the reflection is like a circle. It looks like a long-bearded grandfather with a bent back, standing on the Xiangxi River, telling the passing tourists about the ancient town for thousands of years. legend.

Since ancient times, the names of bridges in Jiangnan have been full of meanings.

The same is naturally true for Yongan Bridge. It is said that local newlyweds, men and women, or children with one-month-old children, all have to walk on Yong'an Bridge, which means "walking on Yong'an, praying for blessings and peace", and it has become a custom over time.

During the Daoguang period, Wang Zhe, a young pastor of Liaoyang Prefecture, wrote a poem about the bridge: "On the Yong'an Bridge, I wish Chang'an, and people part ways and go back. The willows are folded to sing a triplet, and the vast mist reminds me of my hometown. close".

After talking about the bridge, let’s talk about Mingyue Temple.

Mingyue Temple is located on Shantang Street in Mudu Ancient Town, a hundred meters east of Yanjia Garden.

This is the earliest temple in the history of Mudu Ancient Town. It was built in the second year of Qingtai in the Later Tang Dynasty by monk Mingzhi.

There used to be a large pear forest near Mingyue Temple. Every early spring, "thousands of pear trees bloom", becoming a scene in the ancient town.

A beautiful poem about Qingli Guo, praising it as: "Lihua Mingyue Temple, Fangcao Muniu Temple", was widely praised for a time.

The former site of Mingyue Temple was originally located behind Mudu Shantang Street. In the 1960s and 1970s, the temple was completely destroyed.

In 1993, restoration was carried out at the original site, and the abandoned factory buildings of the former Wuxian Crafts and Clothing Factory were used to expand Mingyue Temple to Shantang Street.

It is worth mentioning that the layout and structure of Mingyue Temple at the foot of Lingyan Mountain, Tianwang Hall, Daxiong Hall and Sutra Library are almost the same as Lingyan Mountain Temple on the mountain.

Entering the mountain gate and the Heavenly King's Hall, Maitreya, a big-bellied man, sat in the middle with a kind air.

The four heavenly kings lined up on both sides, each with their eyebrows raised and their eyes raised, looking mighty and fierce.

The main hall is the center of the Mingyue Temple complex. The main hall has five rooms and the second floor has cornices and cornices. It is solemn, solemn and magnificent.

The Tathagata Buddha is worshiped in the center of the hall, with Amitabha Buddha and Medicine Buddha on both sides, collectively known as the "Three Worlds Buddha".

On the back of the Buddha is worshiped Guanyin Bodhisattva, with lotus flowers at his feet and willow branches in his hands, with a reserved and quiet expression. On both sides of the main hall are eighteen Arhats with different and lifelike expressions.

Due to the epidemic, when I went to the ancient town yesterday, the door of Mingyue Temple was closed, and some incense candles wrapped in red plastic bags were hung on the door.

This is customary.

Pilgrims around the ancient town will go to the temple to worship Buddha and burn incense on important Buddhist days. In special circumstances when the temple is not open, they hang incense candles on the door and the monks in the temple pray for them.

The temples in Jiangnan are actually quite secular places. People seek spiritual sustenance here and also have troubles here.

After some "communication" with the gods and Buddhas, I walked around the yard leisurely, looked at the scenery, and talked about my family's affairs with others.

Just when I turned around to go out, I suddenly saw the big word "Buddha" on the screen wall that was coming towards me. I suddenly became humble again, thinking about whether I had "leaked" something just now, for fear of blasphemy. Very pious.