Hanshan Temple in Spring

A light rain falls on the city of Suzhou in spring. I follow the crowd into Hanshan Temple. The camphor trees on both sides of the bluestone path have sprouted new buds, and the air is filled with the subtle fragrance of tea. The screen wall in front of the temple gate is simple and heavy, and the three large characters "Hanshan Temple" on the wall shimmer in the rain. Passing through the gate, the Mahavira Hall comes into view. Inside the hall, the statue of Sakyamuni Buddha gleams with golden light. The Eighteen Arhats on both sides are either naive and adorable or solemn and dignified, making people stop and take a closer look. Around the back of the hall, the stone statues of Hanshan and Shide gaze at each other quietly. Legend has it that they are the "Two Saints of Harmony," holding a clean vase and a lotus branch, as if whispering to each other. In the bell tower, the 108-ton ancient bell hangs from the beam, its surface covered with scriptures. I gently tap the wooden mallet, and the deep bell rings echo through the temple, startling a few white doves that fly over the eaves. In the stele gallery, the steles inscribed with the poem "Night Mooring Near Maple Bridge" written by calligraphers of various dynasties are arranged in sequence. The fragrance of ink mixes with the scent of rain, reminding people of Zhang Ji's line, "The midnight bell reaches the traveler's boat." When I leave the temple, the cherry blossoms and larkspurs are in full bloom. Pink and white petals fall on the bluestone road, contrasting with the cargo ships on the canal in the distance. Hanshan Temple is not big, but it hides a thousand years of Zen. The spring breeze blows, and even the sound of the bell becomes gentle.