The Hanging Temple Monastery of Hengshan

Built in 491, Hanging Monastery is an Architectural Wonder of the World, as it hangs on the West Cliff of Jinxia Gorge more than 50 meters above the ground.

The Hanging Temple Monastery of Hengshan literally hangs on the side of Hengshan Mountain, China sustained by only a few Wooden Poles.

Hanging Monastery has survived more than 1500 years. The extant Monastery was largely rebuilt and maintained in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).

The Hanging Temple of Hengshan is an amazing display of architecture.

You would think this kind of a building couldn’t for hundreds of years, but it is believed the temple was built during the late Northern Wei Dinasty (386-534AD), by a monk called Liao Ran. It was restored during the 1900s. 

The gravity-defying Hanging Temple of Hengshan is comprised of 40 chambers.

Liked through a network of Passage-Ways and hosts not one but three religions. Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism are all worshiped here, in harmony.

How could a building like this withstand the winds and storms of so many years?

Hanging Monastery is an architectural wonder. A unique mechanical theory was applied to building the framework.

Crossbeams were half-inserted into the rock as the foundation, while the rock in back became its support. 

Seen from below, Hanging Monastery appears to be a tumble-down castle in the air. 

Inside, Hanging Monastery provides the same scene as other temples. 

Construction experts from countries including Britain, Germany and Italy, come to see the monastery.

In their words, Hanging Monastery, which mixes mechanics, aesthetics, and Buddhism, is rare. 

The second attraction of Hanging Monastery is that it includes Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism. 

Inside the monastery, the sculptures of Sakyamuni, Confucius and Lao Tzu appear together.

Which is Unusual.

There are 40 halls and cabinets, which contain about 80 sculptures made of copper, iron, terracotta, and stone.

The features are Vividly Carved.