Dali is one of the places with the richest culture in Yunnan. The ubiquitous culture makes Dali's image three-dimensional and full.

Through the careful craftsmanship of time and culture, Dali has become a "paradise" that everyone yearn for and a safe haven from pressure.

In addition to local people in Dali, there are more people who want to change their previous life and come to settle here, because in the eyes of most people, Dali is a place they don't want to go.

More people come to Dali because of their fame, because the life, scenery and culture here are so unique.

The previous article talked about "Nanzhao". In this article, we continue Dali's cultural journey and look for another mysterious dynasty, the "Dali State".

"Dali State" is the local political power after the "Nanzhao" in today's Dali area. Speaking of "Dali State", we may be more familiar with it by changing the label-the Duan family.

This is a legendary family, because there is no such legend among the families of those in power in Dali history and even the entire ancient history of China!

If we don't look at the official history and look for traces of this family in literary works, then Mr. Jin Yong's martial arts novels are undoubtedly the best way.

From Duan Yu, Duan Zhengchun, and Duan Zhengming in "Eight Parts of the Dragon" to Master Yi Deng in "The Legend of the Condor Heroes" and "The Condor Heroes", they all come from the Duan family.

Dali's "Duan Family" can be said to be the number one aristocratic family in Mr. Jin Yong's novels. Many people think that the Duan Family is a fictional family. In fact, this family exists real in history. This family lives in a corner. Dali, who has settled in today, is the ruler of the "Dali State".

In Mr. Jin Yong's martial arts novel, the martial arts of the Duan family are of their own origin. Everyone has first-class martial arts and has a very high status in the chivalrous martial arts world.

In martial arts novels, in addition to the distinctive characteristic of being romantic and passionate, the descendants of the Duan family also hide another characteristic. Most of the people in power in the Duan family chose to become monks in their later years, and this phenomenon runs through Mr. Jin Yong's many novels.

Duan Yu's uncle Duan Zhengming in "The Eight Parts of the Dragon" and the Yi Deng master in "The Condor Heroes" both chose to become a monk in his later years. This phenomenon in martial arts novels can also be confirmed by data in official history.

The Duan family in martial arts novels and the Duan family in historical records have only the same point that "the person in power became a monk after retiring." Duan Yu and Duan Zhengchun are not as romantic and passionate as in martial arts novels, and can still be regarded as a qualified person in power.

In martial arts novels, the Duan family in Dali is a martial arts family with unique skills, but in the official history, the Duan family is an ordinary politician family in Dali.

According to data, a total of 22 heirs emerged during the Duan family's rule of Dali, and 11 of the 22 people in power chose to become monks in their later years.

In Chinese feudal history, the Duan family was the only royal family that had this phenomenon. The most widely known label imprinted on this family was "those in power become monks." The Duan family's behavior of not loving dragon chairs and green lanterns and ancient Buddhas is is unbelievable.

Then another question arose: Where do you become a monk?

The answer to this question is-Chongsheng Temple, and the three pagodas of Chongsheng Temple are also the focus of today's Dali cultural journey. Let's go to the three pagodas cultural tourist area of Chongsheng Temple to have an in-depth understanding!

The layout of the Chongsheng Temple Three Pagoda Cultural Tourism Zone is roughly divided into two parts, the first half with the "Three Ancient Towers" as the core and the second half with the "Chongsheng Temple" as the core. The two parts are connected together and inseparable.

What is the relationship between the Chongsheng Temple Three Pagoda Cultural Tourism Area and the Emperor of Dali?

Why is Chongsheng Temple called the "Royal Temple"?

To be precise, the one related to the Duan family is Chongsheng Temple, because the leaders of the Duan family all chose to become monks here after retiring.

Chongsheng Temple is called "Tianlong Temple" in Mr. Jin Yong's novel. It is 1.5 kilometers away from the ancient city of Dali. Chongsheng Temple was once the largest ancient temple in Dali history.

Although it was destroyed by fires and wars in the late Qing Dynasty, the rebuilt Chongsheng Temple still shows its grand momentum. Perhaps due to the unique terrain from low to high, or perhaps it is in the background of Cangshan and Erhai Lake. It is more solemn and solemn than imagined. It feels particularly shocking, especially when standing in front of the three towers.

The connection between Chongsheng Temple and the feudal imperial power of Dali State was more due to social factors. Because the Duan family, who was in power during the Dali State period, promoted Buddhist culture within Dali State, and the monks had a high status, many people in power left the center of the power struggle and chose to become a monk.

Secondly, although the period family unified the Dali area and established the Dali State at that time, the Duan family was not the only one who was the dominant family at that time, and the power of other families in Dali should not be underestimated.

Dali Kingdom is also under current conditions. Several major families are covet the position of the person in power. The internal strife in Dali Kingdom is very serious, and there is a faint momentum of aristocratic families controlling the court. The person in power in power can only be a puppet at the mercy of others, so the person in power who is tired of this situation chose to become a monk.

The layout of Chongsheng Temple is special across the country. It is a combination of "temple" and "royal palace". Chongsheng Temple has a central axis and the buildings are symmetrically distributed. It also combines the tranquility and elegance of the ancient temple.

The four main halls of Chongsheng Temple are all distributed centrally, on the center axis with the gate of Chongsheng Temple, and the side halls are separated on both sides of the main hall. This architectural layout is usually used in royal buildings.

In Chongsheng Temple, there is a corridor connecting the main hall and the side hall. In addition, pavilions and terraces can be seen everywhere, embodying the essence of Chinese classical architecture and the silent dialogue between architecture and nature, architecture and architecture.

It is confirmed that Chongsheng Temple is a "Royal Temple". There is a hall next to the Daxiong Hall, the largest building in Chongsheng Temple, called the "Temple of Exams". There are no Buddha statues in this hall. What is displayed is the memorial tablets of the nine people in power who became monks here.

The Temple of Eminent Morons is the most unique place in Chongsheng Temple. Families in power in Chinese feudal history would build their own tombs, but no tombs of the Duan family have been found in Dali Kingdom.

It is a bold guess that although they were rulers of the same party, each ruler was deeply influenced by Buddhist culture. Perhaps after their death, the funeral ceremony in Buddhist culture was also adopted. No tombs were built, but only relics were retained. Because the relics were carbonized for a long time, no relics could be found.

In the whole of Dali, if there is any place that has a connection with the Duan family, Chongsheng Temple is really counted. Although the connection between Dali Kingdom and Chongsheng Temple can only be visually seen from a pavilion, the "Eminent Monk Hall", the invisible things have long existed in Chongsheng Temple, and this part needs to be understood after an in-depth understanding.

Text typesetting: Reading Yunnan Yijing

Picture: Some pictures are provided by Dali Tourism Group. If there is any infringement, please contact and delete them.

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