“嵩山少林寺中英双语导游词

(嵩山少林寺)

Ladies and Gentlemen，

Welcome to the world-famous Songshan Shaolin Temple in Henan province.It is my honor to be your tour guide.Now we are going to visit the birth place of Chinese Zen, the Shaolin Temple.The construction of Shaolin Temple began during the 19th year of the Northern Wei Dynasty Xiaowen (Yuan Hong) Emperor’s reign (495 A.D.) to settle the Indian Buddhist priest Batuo.It is named“Shaolin Temple” because it is located in the midst of Shaoshi Mountain’s forests.In 527，the 3rd year of the Northern Wei Dynasty Taihe Emperor’s reign，Bodhi Dharma，a 28 th Generation Buddha, arrived at Shaolin after three years’long journey.His arrival sparked the rapid growth of Zen Buddhism’s influence and popularity.Hence，Shaolin Temple is known as “the imperial sacrifices courtyard’’ throughout the Buddhist world and developed rapidly，especially after the thirteen sticks monks rescued Li Shimin, a very famous and able emperor in Chinese history.The temple won an important place in the Tang dynasty and was reputed to be the “Number One ancient temple in the world”.

For present Shaolin Temple, the ancient and mystical Buddhism has brought its name far in the world.However, Shaolin is most renowned in China and elsewhere for its exquisite Shaolin Kung Fu.As an old saying goes，“the Chinese Kung Fu crowns the world and its source is the Shaolin Temple”.The temple is the cradle of Shaolin martial arts, which are universally acknowledged as the orthodox martial arts school in China.

The Shaolin Temple scenic area is one of the most famous tourist attractions in China.In 2000 the Shaolin Temple scenic area was designated a first batch 4A level traveling area and recognized by the national travel agency as the highest-level Chinese tourist attraction.

The Shaolin Temple scenic area consists of the Shaolin Temple, Pagoda Forest, Anc-estor’s and Second Ancestor's Monasteries, Dharma Cave, Yongtai Temple and Shaoshi Tower and other main scenic sites.

Shaolin Temple.

Ladies and gentlemen，we are now approaching the Shaolin Temple.Shaolin Temple is at the core of Shaolin Temple scenic area and is the place where the deacon monks and priests carry out Buddhist religious ceremonies.It has 7 rows of rooms，covering more than 30,000 square meters.

Now we are standing in front of Shanmen, or mountain gate.The Shanmen is Shaolin Temple’s front gate and was first built during the Qing Dynasty and was rebuilt in 1975.The Chinese characters, Shaolin Temple, were handwritten by the Qing Emperor Kangxi. Its seal, the “treasure of the Kangxi Emperor brush”, is off to the side.

The two lions beside the entrance were made in the Ming Dynasty.They are vertically engraved in Buddhist style to symbolize good fortune.There are also two stone tortoises outside，and they were constructed during the Ming Dynasty.

Pay attention here，please.The figure in the palace entrance with the big stomach is Maitreya，who is the Buddha that welcomes guests.His benign smiling countenance greets you as you arrive. It is said of the Maitreya Buddha that the “the solemn grave entrance happy to look the glory illuminating，smiles welcome the coming person to pray for heavenly blessing and infinite happiness”.

Behind the entrance palace niche is a statue consecrating the Bodhisattva, the person who protects Buddhist Jin’gang law.He grasps the Jin’gang valuable pestle and protects the temple’s three treasures：the temple Buddha，Buddhist law，and the monks’security.

Please look around.There are many stele carvings along the entrance road’s two sides.This is the Shaolin Temple stele forest.The Shaolin Temple tablet porch is located east of the Stele forest.It not only records the temple’s rises and declines, but also provides a valuable historical record for research on the Temple and its carving is a valuable work of art. Shaolin Temple’s stele forest and the table porch have a total of 108 pieces of stele carvings.

Chuipu Hall is located on the west side of Stele Forest. It has 42 blocks around the corridor. It uses the clay sculpture and the woodcarving to vividly demonstrate the Shaolin Temple martial arts. These carvings illustrate Kongfu’s origins, development, repertoire, and role in national defense. They all show monk soldiers using martial arts during combat. There are 14 groups of 216 hammers spectra pictures depicting fighting techniques, such as running circles around Buddha, the eight different brocade sections, small red, scarlet, arm passing, Luo-Han, and illustrious positive fists. The actual fighting scenes shown include the 13 sticks monk rescuing Qin Wang, Xiaoshan Buddhist priest as commander-in-chief preparing to go to battle, and Yuekong master battling Japanese pirates. It is said that “After spending five minutes in Chuipu Hall, one can practice Shaolin Kung Fu.” And in fact, everybody may practice the Shaolin Kung Fu by studying and following these cast postures.

Now, we are entering and entirely rebuilt structure, the Hall of Heavenly God. The original hall was burned down in 1928 and was repaired in 1982. These two big Jingang outside palace gate are “generals Heng and Ha”. Their responsibility is to protect the Buddhist doctrine. The main hall inside has four great heavenly gods, which are also called the four big Jin’gang. Their responsibilities include monitoring the good and evil behavior of all the living creatures, helping the distressed, and bestowing blessings upon the world.

Shaolin’s central temple is Mahavira Hall and is where ceremonial Buddhist activities take place. It and the Hall of Heavenly God were both burned down in 1928 by the warlord Shi Yousan. Mahavira Hall was reconstructed in 1985.The middle statuary in the hall is the present world Buddha, the Buddha Sakyamuni, while the one on the left is the past world Buddha, represented by the colored glazed world pharmacist Buddha in the east. Over to the right is the future world Buddha, the extremely happy world Amitabha Buddha in the west. Figures of Kingnaro, the Shaolin Cudgel’s founder, and Dharma，the founder of Chinese Zen Buddhism，stand beside those three Buddhas.This placement is very different from that of other Mahavira Halls.At the feet of the pillars in this Mahavira Hall are stone lions that are more than one meter (a little over 3 feet) high.

On both sides in front of the Mahavira Hall stand the Bell and Drum Towers.The original towers were also destroyed in 1 928.They were rebuilt in 1994 and the bell is rung every hour during the morning，while a drum is beaten every hour during the afternoon. Hence, the saying “morning bell and afternoon drum”.

In front of the Bell Tower is the stele “Emperor Songshan Shaolin Temple Tablet”，also called“the Stele of Li Shimin”.It was engraved in 16th year (728 A.D.) of the Tang Dynasty Emperor Xuanzong's reign.The frontpiece is a story written by Li Shimin describing Shaolin monks rescued Prince Li Shimin from Wang Shichong.Li Shimin later became a Tang Dynasty Emperor and personally wrote the stele inscriptions.His signature is on the fifth column to the right of the stele.The seven large brush-written Chinese characters,“the Second Emperor Wen Imperial Handwriting”，on the stele carving is the handwriting of the Tang Dynasty Xuanzong Li Longji Emperor.The backpiece is“Li Shimin Bestows Shaolin Temple the Bai Guzhuang Imperial Book”.This book records the story of how the 13 sticks monks rescued Qin Wang and also served the historical basis for the celebrated martial art movie,“Shaolin Temple”.

Just north of the “Li Shimin Table” is the“Xiaoshan Master's Merits Tablet”.It records the exploits of the Shaolin Temple’s Cao Dongzong, or the 24th generation Chuanfa master and how his merits have inspired the Shaolin monks.At its back is the“All Sorts of People Tablet”;its top quarter is a pictorial depiction of Buddhism, Daoism and Confucianism.The tablet reflects Mt.Songshan’s importance as a common meeting place for Buddhism, Daoism, and Confucianism and underscores the confluence between the three major religions.Now look north and you will see the“Qianlong Imperial Tablet”，which was engraved during the 15th year (1750 A.D.) of the Qing Dynasty Qianlong Emperor’s rule.

The palace on the east side is Kingnaro hall，which was reconstructed in 1982.Here you can see three different images of Kingnaro，the God who protects the Shaolin Temple.

On the west side of Kingnaro hall is the sixth ancestor palace.It was reconstructed in 1982.It

consecrates the Situation，Puvirtuous，and Manjusri Bodhisattvas，as well as the Goddess of Mercy.Two sides consecrate the first ancestor of the Zen Dharma，second ancestor Huike，third ancestor Sengcan，the fourth ancestor Daoxin，the fifth ancestor Hongren，and the sixth ancestor Huineng.People esteem them as six ancestors trans-formed by the Goddess of Mercy.On the west wall is the large-scale painted sculpture “Dharma turns over to the west with one shoe”.

This structure is known as Depositary of Buddhist Sutras and was built during the Ming Dynasty.It was destroyed in 1928 and rebuilt in 1994.Rare books concerning secrets of martial arts are also safely kept here.

The Depositary of Buddhist Sutras’east wing is the East Meditation Room, while the west wing is the West Reception Room.The former is used by Buddhist priests for meditation, while the latter is used for receiving guests.

This is the Shaolin Temple abbot/abbess court and is where the abbots live.Emperor Qianlong once stayed here when traveling to Mt.Songshan.A Yuan Dynasty clock is on the east side and its purpose is to sound the alarm during emergencies.

This pavilion is named Dharma’s Pavilion or Lixue Pavilion, which means“Standing in the snow” in English. It says：After Buddha Dharma came to China，many Chinese Buddhists wanted to be his followers，and Shengguang was the most prominent of them.He always followed him whenever and wherever he went and whole-heartedly served Buddha Dharma.But Dharma didn’t want to accept Shengguang as a disciple.Shengguang didn’t lose heart and became even more steadfast.On a snowy night，he begged as usual with Bodhidharma outside, standing in the knee-high snow.The master set forward a prerequisite：he would not meet his demand unless it would snow in red flakes.Shengguang drew out the sword and cut off his left arm and stained the snowy ground.Bodhidharma was so moved that he passed his mantle, alms bowl and musical instruments on to Shengguang and gave him a Buddhist name of Huike.He was regarded as the second founder of the Zen sect. Emperor Qianlong wrote a phrase on a plaque in commendation.

The Manjusri Palace is located on Dharma Pavilion’s east side and consecrates the Manjusri

Bodhisattva.Everyone please follow me to visit the highest most holy Shaolin Temple hall.

All right, everyone，now we are in the last hall，Pilu Hall, also called the Thousand Buddha Hall.It’s also Shaolin Temple’s main highlight and was built during the Ming Dynasty.The hall is 20 meters high and covers over 300 square meters, making it Shaolin Temple’s largest Buddhist hall.It consecrates the Pilu Buddha in the center of the palace.Look at the floor.There are 48 pits in 4 rows on the hall’s brick floor：that’s where Shaolin monks used to stand and practice Kung Fu.Those pits are called“Zhanzhuangkeng”in Chinese.It is said that they are the footprints left by monks when they practiced Shaolin Martial Arts.We can know how wonderful they were from these foot pits.

So until now, the visit of the Shaolin Temple is almost over.I think you may have some questions about the temple, or you want to take some photos.So, please do remember, you have half an hour.After half an hour we will gather at the Front Gate Hall, and make sure you’ll be there on time.And then we are going to the Pagoda Forest.

Pagoda Forest

Now, we come to the Pagoda Forest，the Temple’s graveyard for Buddhist dignitaries through

the ages.Its total area is 14,000 square meters.In 1996, the State Council included it in China’s national cultural relic preservation program.There are 240 towers made in bricks and stones in the

Pagoda Forest dating back to the Tang，Song，Jin，Yuan, and Ming Dynasties.The Shaolin Temple’s Pagoda Forest is the oldest and largest one in China.On average, the pagodas are less than 15 meters (about 49 feet) high.The layer and the shape of a pagoda depend on many factors，such as one’s Buddhist status, attainment and prestige.

The Ancestor’s and Second Ancestor’s Monasteries

Outside the temple we continue walking to northwest, and then we will take a look at two monasteries, named the Ancestor's and Second Ancestor’s Monasteries.The first monastery is built by a Dharma disciple to commemorate the Dharma’s nine years of meditation in a cave.It has a big hall supported by 16 stone pillars on whose shafts are exquisitely carved warriors, dancing dragons and phoenixes.The second monastery is a nursing home of the second ancestor Huike who cut his left arm in order to show his sincerity to study Buddhism from Dhama.Four springs created by Dharma to make it possible for Huike to easily fetch his water are in front of the monastery.They are called“Spring Zhouxi” and each has its own distinctive flavor.

Dharma Cave

The cave we see next is the Dharma Cave. In this cave Dharma patiently faced the wall and meditated for 9 years.Finally, he reached the immortal spiritual state and created the Buddhist Zen.The cave is seven meters deep (about 23 feet) , three meters high (about 9.8 feet) and 3.5 meters wide (about 11.5 feet) . Many stone inscriptions are carved on both of its sides.There is a Meditating Stone in the cave.It is said Dharma’s shadow was reflected upon the stone and embedded on it, due to his long period of meditating in the cave.Unfortunately the stone was ruined during wars.

Shifang Chanyuan

After passing the Dharma Cave, we come to the Buddhist Living Quarters for transient monks, which were called“Shifang Chanyuan”.It is on the south bank of the Shaoxi River opposite the temple.First built in 1512 of the Ming Dynasty, it was renovated during the Qing Dynasty.The quarters are noted for the simple and distinctive design. It collapsed in 1958 and then was repaired in 1993.

Shaolin Temple Wushu Training Center

Now we are going to Visit the Shaolin Temple Wushu (Martial Arts) Training Center. Its beautiful environment provides a perfect backdrop practicing the Chinese Shaolin Kung Fu.Shaolin monks have been practicing Kung Fu for over 1,500 years.The system was invented by Dharma who taught the monks basic methods by which they could improve their health and defend themselves.These martial art performances show the true Chinese Shaolin Kung Fu.For example, Tong Zi Gong, performed by teenagers, is a kind of martial art to train one’s flexibility and strength.

Ladies and gentlemen, this is the end of our visit to the Shaolin Temple.Thank you for your

cooperation.Hope to see you again here.Thank you.Goodbye!

尊敬的各位来宾：

大家好!欢迎来河南嵩山游览，很荣幸能成为你们的导游。我们现在要去参观游览中国禅宗的发源地——少林寺。少林寺始建于北魏太和十九年(公元495年)，由孝文帝元宏为安顿印度僧人跋陀，依山辟基而创建，因其坐落于少室山密林之中，故名“少林寺”。北魏孝昌三年(公元527年)释迦牟尼的第二十八代佛徒菩提达摩历时三年到达少林寺，首传禅宗，影响极大。因此，少林寺被世界佛教统称为“禅宗祖庭”，并在此基础上迅速发展，特别是唐初十三棍僧救驾李世民后得到了唐王朝的高度重视，博得了“天下第一名刹”的美誉。

现在的少林寺不仅因其古老神秘的佛教文化名扬天下，更因其精湛的少林功夫而驰名中外。“中国功夫冠天下，天下武功出少林"，这里是少林武术的发源地，少林武术也是举世公认的中国武术正宗流派。

少林寺景区还是我国著名的旅游胜地之一。2000年，少林寺景区被国家旅游局首批认定为4A级旅游区。

少林寺景区包括少林寺常住院、塔林、初祖庵、二祖庵、达摩洞、十方禅院、武术馆等主要旅游景点。

少林寺常住院

现在我们看到的是少林寺常住院。

少林寺常住院是少林寺的核心，是住持和尚和执事僧进行佛事活动的地方，总面积3万多平方米，为七进建筑。

山门就是少林寺的大门，这是清代建筑，1975年翻修，门额上的“少林寺”三字是清康熙皇帝亲书，上有“康熙御笔之宝”方印一枚。

山门殿台阶下两侧的石狮是明代刻立的，既显示了佛门的气派，又象征着镇邪与吉祥，山门外两侧还有明代嘉靖年间建造的东西石坊各一座。

大家看，山门殿佛龛中供奉的是大肚弥勒佛，又称迎宾佛，他慈眉善目，笑迎大家的到来。人们称赞弥勒佛“端庄庄重山门喜看世间光辉照，笑哈哈迎来人祝福极乐永无穷”。

山门殿佛龛后面供奉的是韦驮菩萨，人称护法金刚，他手持金刚宝杵，保护寺院佛、法、僧三宝的安全。

山门通道两侧有很多碑刻，人称少林寺碑林。碑林东侧为少林寺碑廊，它记载着寺院的荣辱兴衰，在历史、书法、雕刻等方面有很高的研究价值。少林寺碑林和碑廊共计有碑刻108通。

碑林的西面是锤谱堂，这里回廊一周42间，它用泥塑和木雕等形象地展示了少林寺武术的缘起、发展、练功、精华套路、国防功能、僧兵战迹、武术活动等内容，共陈展14组216个锤谱像。有坐禅、跑经绕佛、八段锦、小红拳、大红拳、六合拳、通臂拳、罗汉拳、昭阳拳、练基本功、十三棍僧救秦王、小山和尚持帅出征、月空法师平倭寇以及俗家弟子习拳练武等。俗话称：锤谱堂里五分钟，出来一身少林功，大家比照这些塑像姿势就可以练习少林功。

我们现在看到是第二进建筑天王殿，天王殿的原建筑于1928年被石友三烧毁。这是1982年重修的，殿门外的两大金刚，传为“哼"、“哈”二将，职责是守护佛法。大殿内侧塑的是四大天王，又称四大金刚，他们的职责是视察众生的善恶行为，扶危济困、降福人间。

大雄宝殿是全寺的中心建筑，是僧人进行佛事活动的重要场所，该殿和天王殿一样在1928年被军阀石友三烧毁。这是1985年重建的。殿内正中供奉的为现世佛——释迦牟尼如来佛，左为过去佛——东方净琉璃世界的药师佛，右为未来佛——西方极乐世界的阿弥陀佛，殿内东西山墙悬塑的是十八罗汉，屏墙后壁悬塑的是观世音。少林寺大雄宝殿与其他寺院大雄宝殿的不同之处在于这里的三世佛左右各塑有紧那罗王(少林寺棍术创始人)和达摩祖师(少林寺禅宗创始人)站像。另外，在该殿中间的两根大柱下还有麒麟雕像，有一米多高(约为3.33英尺)。

大雄宝殿前两侧的建筑为钟、鼓二楼，东南为钟楼，西南为鼓楼，原建筑毁于1928年的兵火，1994年进行了重修，它们是寺院用来报时的。这也就是我们常说的“晨钟暮鼓”。

钟楼前这块­­碑刻为《皇帝嵩岳少林寺碑》俗称《李世民碑》，它刻立于唐玄宗开元十六年(公元728年)。正面是李世民告谕少林寺上座寺主等人的教文，表彰了少林寺僧助唐平定王世充的战功，右起第五行有李世民亲笔草签的“世民”二字，碑刻“太宗文皇帝御书” 七个大字系唐玄宗李隆基御书。背面刻的是李世民《赐少林寺柏谷庄御书碑记》，记述了十三棍僧救秦王的故事，也是影片《少林寺》拍摄的历史依据。

《李世民碑》的北边是《小山禅师行实碑》，记述了少林寺曹洞宗第24代传法禅师的经历和重振少林禅宗的功德。它的背面是《混元三教九流图赞碑》，上面刻有佛、道、儒三教混元图像，此碑反映了嵩山是佛、道、儒三教荟萃之地，体现了三教合流的重要思想。再往北我们看到的是清乾隆15年(公元1750年)刻立的《乾隆御碑》。

大雄宝殿东侧的殿宇是紧那罗殿，重建于1982年，内塑的紧那罗王是少林寺特有的护法神。这里展示了紧那罗王德报身、法身、应身三种不同的形象。

大雄宝殿西侧与紧那罗殿相对的六祖堂是1982年重建的，殿内正面供奉的是大势至菩萨、文殊菩萨、观音菩萨、普贤菩萨、地藏菩萨，两侧供奉的是禅宗初祖达摩、二祖慧可、三祖僧灿、四祖道信、五祖弘忍、六祖慧能，人称六祖拜观音。六祖堂的西壁是大型彩塑“达摩只履西归图”。

眼前的这个建筑便是藏经阁，为明代所建，殿于1928年，1994年重建。珍贵的书籍包括大量宝贵的艺术作品都被保存在这里。

藏经阁东西两厢分别是东禅堂、西客堂，东禅堂是供僧人坐禅的地方，西客堂现为接待宾客的场所。

方丈室是少林寺住持僧(也就是方丈)起居生活和理事的地方。乾隆十五年九月二十九日，乾隆游历嵩山时曾在此住宿。方丈室门口东侧的钟为元代铸造，此钟只能在遇到紧急情况下方可击之，起报警作用。

达摩亭又称立雪亭。说起达摩亭还有一个动人的故事。据佛教经典记载：达摩来到少林寺后，有很多中国的信徒想跟随他，其中最突出的是一中国高僧神光。他不论何时何地，都全心全意地追随和服侍达摩。但是，为了考验神光，达摩拒绝了他。神光并不灰心，甚至更加坚定。在冬天的一个夜晚，达摩在达摩亭坐禅入定，神光如往常一样侍立在亭外。这时天上下起了大雪，大雪淹没了神光的双膝，神光仍双手合十，一动也不动，第二天早上达摩开定后，见神光站在雪地里，就问他：“你站在雪地里干什么?”神光回答说：“求师傅传授真法。”达摩说:“要我传法给你,除非天降红雪。”神光解意,抽出戒刀，砍去了自己的左臂，鲜血顿时染红了白雪，达摩心动，遂把衣钵法器传给了神光，作为传法的凭证，并为其取名为“慧可”。他因此被称为禅宗二祖。乾隆皇帝曾御笔题匾以为纪念。

达摩亭东侧的为文殊殿，店内供奉的是文殊菩萨，下面请大家跟随我去参观少林寺最高的大殿，当然也是最珍贵的殿堂。

大家请注意，现在我们要进入最后一个大殿毗卢阁，也称千佛殿。这是少林寺中最大的建筑。这里是最精彩的观光之处。千佛殿是明朝建造的，殿高20余米，面积300余平方米，是寺内最大的佛殿，殿内神龛中供奉的是毗卢佛(释迦牟尼佛的法身)。我们往地上看，店内砖铺地面上有4排48个站桩坑，它们是少林寺僧练拳习武的脚坑遗址，这些脚坑见证了少林功夫非同一般。

塔林

现在，我们来到了塔林。少林寺塔林是历代少林寺高僧的坟茔，总面积1400余平方米，1996年被国务院公布为国家级重点文物保护单位。塔林现存唐、宋、金、元、明、清各代砖石墓塔240余座，其中唐塔2座、宋塔2座、金塔10座、元塔46座、明塔148座，其余为清塔和年代不详的塔。少林寺塔林是我国现存古塔群中规模最大、数量最多的古塔群，这里的塔高一般在15米以下。塔的高低、大小、层级、形制是根据和尚生前在佛教的地位、佛学造诣、佛徒数量、威望高低、经济状况及历史条件而定的。

初祖庵和二祖庵

出寺后朝东北走，我们去看看两座庵，即初祖庵和而祖庵。初祖庵是达摩的后代弟子作为纪念达摩在洞中面壁所建。它的大厅被16根石柱支撑着。石柱上雕刻精美的武士及龙凤图案。二祖庵是二祖慧可为示求法诚心断左臂后静养之所。在庵前有四汪泉水是达摩为方便慧可取水而掘，它们被称为周溪泉，四泉其味各不相同。

达摩洞

我们接着参观的洞为达摩洞。就是在这个洞里，达摩面壁冥思达九年，终成正果，首传禅宗。达摩洞位于少林寺西北的五乳峰上，石洞深约7米(约为23英尺)，高3米(约为9.8英尺)，宽3.5米(约为11.5英尺)。洞两旁山岩上有历代名人留下的多处石刻。洞中有一块冥思石。据称由于达摩长时间面壁沉思，其背影反射并被镌刻在石头上。可惜,这块石头已毁于战火。

十方禅院

穿过达摩洞，我们来参观行脚僧人住宿的十方禅院。十方禅院位于少林寺对面少溪河南岸，始建于明朝的1512年，清时得到重修。十方禅院设计精巧，古朴典雅。原院已于1958年倒塌，于1993年得到重修。新建的十方禅院与过去不同，是一组新的佛教禅景——五百罗汉堂。

少林武术训练中心

我们马上要进入的是少林武术训练中心，优美的环境使得这里成为修炼中国功夫的理想场所。少林和尚练习武艺有1500多年的历史。武术体系为达摩所创，并授之僧人以强身健体和自卫。这些武术表演体现了真正的中国功夫。如童子功便由十来岁的小孩表演，主要训练其柔韧性和力度。

好了，各位游客，少林寺的参观活动就要结束了，欢迎大家有机会再到少林寺参观旅游，学拳习武，谢谢! 再见!