Xiangshan Jingang Temple Introduction
Situated in Dinglan, the Xiangshan Jingang Temple is named after the geographic shape resembling an elephant. The main deity worshiped here is Guanyin Bodhisattva. The worship of Guanyin Bodhisattva in China began in the 1st century BC with the introduction of Buddhism and spread to Korea and Japan in the mid-7th century. The faith in Guanyin Bodhisattva also reached Tibet in the 7th century, primarily as the four-armed Guanyin, with the Dalai Lama regarded as its incarnation. Before the Song Dynasty, Guanyin Bodhisattva was depicted as a male figure; the Avatamsaka Sutra describes Guanyin as a courageous man, while the Saddharma Pundarika Sutra refers to him as a good man. Later, in response to the requests of many devotees, Guanyin transformed into a female figure, embodying maternal love and compassion to guide and save sentient beings. [Source: Jinsha Township Office]
