Temple of the White Horses

9km/5.5mi from Luoyang, on the eastern edge of the city, stands the Temple of the White Horses, built in AD 68, which is considered to be one of the oldest in China. Its name is linked to a legend: the Han Emperor Mingdi sent two monks to India in 64, in order that they should study the holy scriptures of Buddha there. The two monks made friends with two Indian priests called Kasyapamatang and Dharmaranya and asked them to bring the sutras to China and promulgate their teachings.

The two Indian priests came to Luoyang with the Buddhist writings on two white horses (hence the temple's name). In order to provide safe storage for the sutras the emperor had this temple built. More than 1000 monks came here in order to hear the teachings of the two priests. When the latter died they were buried in the temple. Their tombs can be seen in the gateway of the temple. The present buildings occupying the site date from the Ming period (1368-1644). In front of the temple stand two equestrian sculptures made of stone, dating from the Song period (960-1279).