In 425, in the 2nd year of Yuanjia period (424–453) in the Liu Song dynasty (420–479), Emperor Wendi ordered abbot Daoyou (道佑) to enlarge the temple. The construction took 10 years, and lasted from 425 to 435.[6][4][5]
In 522, in the 3rd year of Putong period (520–527) in the Liang dynasty (502–557), Emperor Wudi inscribed and honored the name "Temple of King Ashoka" (阿育王寺). In 540, Emperor Wudi donated 500 gold taels to establish a five-story pagoda, a bronze statue of Buddha and an iron tripod. The Temple of King Ashoka rose to fame under the support of the central government.[4][5]
Tang dynasty
In 713, in the 2nd year of Xiantian period (712–713) in the Tang dynasty (618–907), monk Liaoyuan (了緣) elected the Western Pagoda Temple (西塔院). In 744, after the third time failed in travel east to Japan, eminent Vinaya Master Jianzhen settled at the Temple of King Ashoka, where he taught Buddhism (Risshū in Japan) and attracted large numbers of Buddhist practitioners.[4][5]
Emperor Wuzong (814–846) who was a devout Taoist and due to socio-economic agenda, initiated the Huichang Persecution of Buddhism and ordered to demolish many Buddhist temples, confiscated temple lands and forcing monks to disrobe. The stupa was confiscated. Nine years later, in the reign of Emperor Xuanzong, the stupa was sent back to the Temple of King Ashoka. Over 8,000 monks attended the consecration ceremony.[4][5]
Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms
The Temple of King Ashoka was devastated by a disastrous fire in 958 in the 5th year of Xiande period (954–960) in the Later Zhuo dynasty (951–960).[4][5]
In 1008, in the ruling of Emperor Zhenzong (998–1022), the emperor renamed it "Shanguangli Chan Temple of King Ashoka" (阿育王山廣利禪寺)[4][5]
In 1068, under the rule of Emperor Shenzong (1068–1085), Huailian (怀琏) was proposed as the fifth abbot of the temple. Under the leadership of Huailian, the temple was growing of a resurgence of spiritual and religious inquiry.[4][5]
During the Jianyan period (1127–1130) of the Southern Song dynasty (1127–1279), the stupa was transferred to the imperial palace for worship, Emperor Gaozong bestowed a plaque on the temple with the Chinese characters "佛頂光明之塔". In 1156, master Zonggao (宗杲) was appointed the new abbot of the temple. The temple had reached unprecedented heyday at that time with more than 6,000 monks lived in the temple.[4][5]
In 1174, Emperor Xiaozong inscribed a plaque with the words "妙胜之殿" to the temple and bestowed the abbot Congkuo (從廓) upon the title of "Miaozhi Chan Master" (妙智禪師).[4][5]
After the fall of the Southern Song dynasty, the temple went to ruin during the Mongolian invasion of the 13th century.[4][5]
Yuan dynasty
During the reign of Emperor Shizu (1260–1294) of the Yuan dynasty (1271–1368), Wanji (頑極) and Rugong (如珙) successively served as abbot of the Temple of King Ashoka.[4][5]
In 1342, in the Zhizheng era (1341–1368), abbot Wuguang (悟光) refurbished and renovated the Guru Hall, Dharma Hall and other halls and rooms. He used the government rewards to established the Cheng'en Pavilion (承恩閣).[4][5]
The Western Pagoda.The Eastern Pagoda.
Ming dynasty
In 1382, in the 15th year of Hongwu period (1368–1398) in the Ming dynasty, Hongwu Emperor renamed the temple "Chan Temple of King Ashoka" (阿育王山禪寺).[4][5]
During the Wanli era (1573–1620), a bronze stupa was erected by Empress Dowager Xiaoding. Abbot Chuanping (傳瓶) founded the Shanmen, Meditation Hall, corridors and monk's rooms. At that time, the temple had over 100 halls and rooms.[4][5]
Qing dynasty
A catastrophic fire consumed the temple in 1662, the year of Kangxi Emperor (1662–1722) of the Qing dynasty (1644–1911) ascended the throne. The Temple of King Ashoka was reconstructed by monk Fazhong (法忠) in 1680.[4][5]
In the Guangxu era (1875–1908), Putong Pagoda Hall, Yangxin Hall, Yunshui Hall, Lingju Hall, Four Heavenly Kings Hall and abbot's room were gradually built. And the Mahavira Hall was renovated and redecorated in 1911, in the year of the downfall of the Qing dynasty.[4][5]
Republic of China
Abbot Zongliang (宗亮) supervised the reconstruction of Great Compassion Hall and Meditation Hall between 1912 and 1916. The Four Heavenly Kings Hall reduced to ashes by a devastating fire in 1930. After two years it was rebuilt by abbot Yuanlong (源巃).[4][5]
People's Republic of China
In 1966, Mao Zedong launched the devastating ten-year Cultural Revolution, the communist government brutally forced Buddhist monks to renounce their monastic vows and return to secular life, all Buddhist statues were destroyed and the temple was used as factory and barracks.[4][5]
After the 3rd Plenary Session of the 11th Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party, according to the national policy of free religious belief, regular sutras lectures, meditation and other features of temple life were resumed.[4][5]
The Temple of King Ashoka was inscribed as a provincial cultural preservation unit by the Zhejiang Provincial Government in April 1981.[4][5]
The administrative control of the temple was finally transferred to Buddhist community in September 1988, and the government has allocated CN¥ 0.6 million for the reconstruction project.[4][5]
Construction of the Eastern Pagoda, designed by abbot Tongyi (通一), commenced in 1992 and was completed in 1995.[4][5]
The Temple of King Ashoka occupies a building area of 23,400-square-metre (252,000 sq ft) and the total area including temple lands, forests and mountains is over 124,100-square-metre (1,336,000 sq ft).[1][2][8]
The Mahavira Hall is seven rooms wide and 14-metre (46 ft) high. The hall enshrining the statues of Sakyamuni, Amitabha and Bhaisajyaguru. The two disciples' statues are placed in front of the statue of Sakyamuni, the older is called Kassapa Buddha and the middle-aged is called Ananda. In the center of the eaves of the hall is a plaque, on which there are the words "觉行俱圆". Another plaque with "善狮子吼" written by Qianlong Emperor is hung in the interior side of the hall. At the back of the hall enshrines the statue of Guanyin with Shancai standing on the left and Longnü on the right. And the statues of Eighteen Arhats stand on both sides of the hall.[1][2]
Buddhist Texts Library
The two storey Buddhist Texts Library is five rooms wide and 12.5-metre (41 ft) high. Two sets of Chinese Buddhist canon which were printed in the Yongzheng and Qianlong periods of the Qing dynasty are preserved in the hall.
^Yao Silian (2017). 《粱史》 [Book of Liang] (in Chinese). Beijing: Zhonghua Book Company. ISBN9787101021288. 有胡人刘沙（萨）河出家名慧（惠）达，游行礼塔，次至丹阳，未知塔处，乃登城四望，见长干里有异气色，因就礼拜，果是阿育王塔所放光明。由是知必有舍利，乃集众就掘之，入一丈，得三石碑，并长六尺。中一碑有铁函，函中有银函，函中又有金函，盛三舍利及爪发各一枚，发长数尺。
^Zhipan; Shi Daofa (2012). 《佛祖统纪》 [Chronicle of the Buddhas and the Patriarchs] (in Chinese). Shanghai: Shanghai Classics Publishing House. ISBN9787532566082. 于梁大同二年，敕沙门道佑，往鄞县修阿育王寺，掘地得金合，盛三舍利佛爪佛髪，昭建浮屠三级。
^Li Pei (2018-02-13). 浙江风光：阿育王寺 [Scenery of Zhejiang: Temple of King Ashoka]. china.com.cn (in Chinese).
Bibliography
Zhang Yuhuan (2012a). "Legend of King Ashoka in India: Temple of King Ashoka in Ningbo" 《印度阿育王的传说：宁波阿育王寺》. 《图解中国著名佛教寺院》 [Illustration of Famous Buddhist Temples in China] (in Chinese). Beijing: Contemporary China Publishing House. ISBN978-7-5154-0135-5.
Zhang Yuhuan (2012b). "Liu Sahe and the Temple of King Ashoka" 《刘萨河与阿育王寺》. 《图解中国佛教建筑》 [Illustration of Buddhist Architecture in China] (in Chinese). Beijing: Contemporary China Publishing House. ISBN978-7-5154-0118-8.
