Hanshan Temple

Hanshan Temple (Chinese: 寒山寺; pinyin: Hánshān Sì; lit. 'Cold Mountain Temple') is a Buddhist temple and monastery in Gusu District of Suzhou, Jiangsu, China. It is located at the town of Fengqiao (lit. Maple Bridge), about 5 kilometers (3.1 mi) west of Suzhou's old city. It was founded as Miaoli Puming Temple (Chinese: 妙利普明寺). Traditionally, Hanshan Temple is believed to have been founded during the Tianjian era (502–519) of the reign of Emperor Wu of Liang, in the Southern and Northern dynasties period. The current name of the monastery derives from Hanshan, the legendary monk and poet. Hanshan and his disciple Shide are said to have come to the monastery during the reign of Emperor Taizong of Tang (627–649), where Hanshan became the abbot.