Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v1.c7.s3.t5.2

v1.c7.s3.t5.2

According to historical records, in 67 CE, Emperor Han Mingdi dreamt of a golden person. He then sent messengers towards the West in search. In 68 CE, Indian Monks, Kāśyapamātanga and Dharmaratnawas, on invitation arrived in Luoyang on a white horseback carrying Buddhist scriptures and statues. The following year emperor Hanmingdi ordered the construction of a Buddhist Monastery in the northern part of Royal Road, three miles outside the Xiyong Gate and named it - “White Horse Temple.” From the date of completion of construction, the White Horse Temple has witnessed several vicissitudes, repeated damages due to wars and was rebuilt several times. Its size was the highest during the rule of Wu Zetian in the Tang Dynasty and it received a maximum of 3,000 monks at a time. In 1555 CE, when Huang Jin held the position eunuch and the Governor, he renovated the White Horse Temple. To a large extent, the present scale and layout of the White Horse temple is from that time. After the establishment of the People’s Republic of China, the government has rebuilt the temple several times - in 1952, 1954 and 1959. In 1961, the White Horse Temple was declared as a national cultural relic protection unit by the State Council.