In the outskirts of Ningbo, Zhejiang Province (China), on the slopes of Mount Ling, there is a thousand-year-old temple known as “Jiangnan Yizui” – Baoguang Temple. Baoguang Temple is famous for its mysterious saying ‘no birds perch, no wood rots, no dust settles’, having stood majestically for a millennium despite the passage of time.
This site traces its origins back to Ling Mountain Temple during the Eastern Han Dynasty, receiving its name in the first year of the Guangming era of the Tang Dynasty (year 880).
Historical records indicate that during the Eastern Han, there was a general named Zhang Yi and his son, Zhang Qifang, who loved the scenic beauty of the mountains and chose to live in seclusion here. Later, when Buddhism spread to the Central Plains, the garden was transformed into a temple, and since it was located on Mount Ling, the temple was named after the mountain.
In 845, Ling Mountain Temple was destroyed. It wasn’t until 880 that a high monk from the Guoning Temple in Ningbo, named Ke Gong, went to Chang’an to petition the court for its restoration. Emperor Xizong of Tang (who was then 18 years old) not only approved the restoration but also granted the name Baoguang Temple.
The main hall of Baoguang Temple was rebuilt in 1013 and has since celebrated a thousand years of history. The temple is renowned for its unique architectural design. It can be described as a “historical book written in wooden pieces”, and it is one of the most well-preserved temples from the Tang and Song dynasties remaining in the Jiangnan region.
The details within the temple are constructed with precision and complexity, using no nails but employing the mortise and tenon joint method (a structural method for supporting roofs that is an indispensable part of traditional Chinese wooden architecture). This precise construction method intricately connects the components, allowing them to support a roof weighing over 50 tons.
Unique architecture at Baoguang Temple. (Photo: NTDTV).
On the ceiling of the main hall, there are three arches cleverly connected, and the ceiling and arch conceal the beams, making it difficult for those below to see, hence it is called “Hall Without Beams“.
The entire main hall has a greater length than width, creating a rectangular shape that allows air to circulate from outside. The intricate arches and complex mortise and tenon structures create a ‘whirling wind’ effect that persists throughout the year. Thanks to the daily airflow, dust does not settle on the ceilings or columns, and mold cannot take hold.
The main hall is also surrounded by the legend “no birds enter, no insects bore”, which is said to be due to the special building materials. In 1975, during the maintenance of the main hall, when the beams were dismantled, a fragrant wood was discovered. Experts concluded that this was cypress wood, known for its durability and strength. Due to its fragrant resin, both birds and insects are “frightened away”.
Additionally, it is said that at the western gable of the main hall, there are two wooden “steamed buns” stored. According to legend, during a famine, an immortal descended to the mortal realm and dropped two wooden buns, which transformed into real steamed buns to save the monks and the people from hunger. The deity is believed to be the ancestor of carpentry – Lu Ban.
