A Record of Buddhist Monasteries in Luoyang with Annotations (洛陽伽藍記校注)

Yongning Temple was established in the first year of Xiping (516 CE) by Empress Dowager Hu. It is located one li south of the Changhe Gate, in front of the palace, on the west side of the imperial road. [Note] According to the Continued Biographies of Eminent Monks (Volume 1) and the Kaiyuan Catalogue of Buddhist Teachings (Volume 6), the direction is recorded as "east."

To the east of the temple stands the Grand Commandant's office; to the west, it faces Yongkang Lane; to the south, it borders the Office of Monastic Affairs; and to the north, it adjoins the Censorate.

Before the main gate [of the palace], on the east side of the imperial road, stood the Left Guard Office. South of this office was the Office of the Grand Tutor. South of the Office of the Grand Tutor was the National Academy, which housed a statue of Confucius, with scenes of Yan Yuan asking about benevolence and Zilu asking about governance depicted beside it. South of the National Academy was the Court of the Imperial Clan. South of this court was the Imperial Ancestral Temple. South of the temple was the Office of the Imperial Guard. South of this office was the Garment District. On the west side of the imperial road stood the Right Guard Office. South of this office was the Office of the Grand Commandant. South of this office was the Office of Public Works. South of this office was the Nine-Storied Office. South of this office was the Altar of the Land. South of the altar was the Ice District, which was where ice had been stored during the four dynasties.

North of the pagoda stands a Buddha hall, shaped like the Hall of Great Harmony. Inside, there is a gilded statue of the Buddha, eighteen feet tall, along with ten statues of medium height, also gilded, three embroidered pearl statues, five woven gold statues, and two jade statues. These works are exquisitely crafted, unmatched in their time. The monks' quarters and observation towers number over a thousand rooms, with carved beams and painted walls, and ornate lattice windows adorned with green silk—so beautiful that words cannot fully describe them. Cypress, juniper, pine, and cedar trees spread their shade over the eaves, while clusters of bamboo and fragrant herbs blanket the steps and courtyards. Thus, the stele inscription by Chang Jing reads: "Neither the jeweled hall of Mount Sumeru nor the pure palace of Tushita surpasses this place."

Foreign scriptures and images—all of remarkable spiritual power—are housed in this temple. Its surrounding walls are topped with short rafters and covered with tiles, much like the palace walls of today. Each of the four sides has a gate. The southern gate tower has three levels, with three passageways, rising about twenty zhang from the ground, and its design resembles the present-day End Gate. It is adorned with cloud patterns and painted with celestial beings in vivid colors, while ornate coins and blue chains glitter with dazzling brilliance. The archways feature four guardian warriors and four lions, decorated with gold, silver, and precious gems, so resplendent that nothing like them has ever been seen. The eastern and western gates are similar in design, differing only in that their towers have two levels. The northern gate has a single passageway without a roof, resembling a bird-head gate. Outside all four gates, green locust trees line the way, and verdant streams run beside them, offering shade to countless travelers in the capital. The roads remain free of flying dust, not relying on the moisture of gathering clouds; a refreshing breeze brings coolness, without needing the shade of mimosa trees.