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White Horse Temple () is, according to tradition, the first Buddhist temple in China, established in 68 AD under the patronage of Emperor Ming in the Eastern Han dynasty capital Luoyang. The site is located just outside the walls of the ancient Eastern Han capital, some east of Luoyang in Henan Province. It is located approximately 40 minutes by bus No. 56 from the Luoyang railway station.〔Elmer, ''et al.'' (2009), p. 463.〕 The temple, although small in size in comparison to many other temples in China, is considered by most believers as "the cradle of Chinese Buddhism".〔(【引用サイトリンク】title= White Horse Temple )〕 The geographical landmarks to the south of the temple are Manghan mountain and Lucoche River.〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=White Horse Temple )〕 The main temple buildings, a large complex, were reconstructed during the Ming (1368 to 1644) and Qing (1644 to 1912) dynasties.〔Cummings, ''et al.'' (1991) p. 283.〕 They were refurbished in the 1950s, and again in March 1973 after the Cultural Revolution. It has numerous halls divided by several courtyards and manicured gardens, covering an area extending to about . The display plaques in Chinese and English give ample descriptions of the Buddhist deities installed in various halls. Significant statues include Śākyamuni Buddha, Maitreya-the laughing Buddha, the Jade Buddha, and figures of saints such as Guru Avalokiteśvara, Amitābha and arhats. Stone statues of the two white horses, which brought the Indian monks to China, and of two mythical lions are seen at the entrance.〔〔〔 Under international funding, the temple has undergone many changes, both structurally and internally. The most recent cooperative project, with India, was completed in 2008 when the Sanchi Stupa and the Sarnath Buddha statue were erected. ==Etymology== On arrival of the two monks from the land of the Yuezhi (who controlled northern Afghanistan and parts of north-western India at this period), they were housed in the temple. This temple was called the "Pi-ma-sai" meaning White Horse Temple" where 'pi' means "white", 'ma' means "horse" and 'sai' or 'ssi' is "temple". 'Ssi' in Chinese also means residence of "Buddhist priests".〔 Notably, the emperor ordered the suffix 寺 (pinyin ''si'') to be used in the temple's name, as a display of respect. Previously, this character had been used to denote the ministries of the government. In later periods, all temples, even mosques, came to use this character in their name and it was dropped from the names of government ministries. As a result, the temple's name is sometimes translated as ''White Horse Ministry'', a translation true to the time. However, ''White Horse Temple'' is the correct, literal reading. However, this may be a folk etymology as there were other early temples in different centres with the same name. The monk Zhidun (or Chih Tun) (314–366), who was a famous propagator of Buddhism in the southern capital is recorded as having discussions with Fenghui at the Baima si (Pai ma) monastery in Jiankang (previously Jianye), the capital of the Eastern Jin (317-420).〔Zürcher (1972), pp. 8, 59, 107, 119, 129.〕 There was also a Baima si at Xiangyang where Daoan and his disciples stayed c. 365.〔Zürcher (1972), p. 187,〕 To further complicate the search for the origin of the name, it should be remembered that there were peoples known as the 'White Horse Qiang' and 'Di' who lived in the 'White Horse Valley' on the upper reaches of the Min River, which flows south from the Min Mountains near the town of Zhangla (): 32.50° N, 103.40° E., and that there are still people calling themselves the 'White Horse Di' living there.〔(Draft translation ) of the ''Chapter on the Peoples of the West from the Weilũe'' by John E. Hill.〕 It is possible, but unprovable, that the name Baima derived from some of these peoples, who may have been influenced by Buddhism at an early period, rather than from literal white horse(s) carrying scriptures. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「White Horse Temple」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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