If the temple prospers, the nation will be serene~ Reflections on my visit to the Guoqing Temple on Mount Tiantai

I visited the long-anticipated Guoqing Temple in Tiantai Mountain, Taizhou, Zhejiang on March 20, 2024. The Guoqing Temple is vast and beautiful, exuding a profound sense of the vicissitudes of time at every turn! The Sui plum trees in the temple, and the stele of the character 'goose' written by Wang Xizhi, all tell of the temple's long history. It was only after visiting Guoqing Temple that I learned it is the ancestral temple of the Tendai sect in Japan and also the birthplace of the Hanshan Temple in Suzhou. Such a historically valuable temple is surprisingly free of charge, an unexpected delight~ This is perhaps how temples should inherently be. There is no commercial atmosphere here; everything blends harmoniously with the surrounding landscape and countryside, creating a natural and peaceful environment. I particularly enjoyed the walk from the scenic area's main gate to the temple entrance, following a path along the stream, especially during the rapeseed flower blooming season with the gentle spring breeze and the beautiful pastoral scenery. Whether in the temple or in the fields, it's a great spot for photography. Aside from holidays, there are not many tourists here, allowing for a leisurely day of exploration. Guoqing Temple is well worth a visit, offering a chance to experience the harmonious beauty of Buddha and nature!