Daming Temple, first built during the Daming era of the Liu Song Dynasty (457-464 AD), has a history of over 1,560 years. It has undergone numerous renovations and name changes throughout the dynasties—known as Qiling Temple in the Sui Dynasty, and as Fajing Temple for 200 years after Emperor Qianlong bestowed that name in 1765. In 1980, to welcome the return of the statue of Jianzhen (Ganjin) from Japan, the temple was restored to its original name, Daming Temple.
As the hometown of the renowned Tang Dynasty monk Jianzhen, Daming Temple serves as a bridge for cultural and Buddhist exchange between China and Japan, enjoying high prestige both domestically and internationally. Religious figures and friends from Japan, Myanmar, Thailand, Korea, and Southeast Asia have visited Daming Temple multiple times, making it an important window for Yangzhou’s international exchanges.
