Map of the Temples and Monasteries of Nanjing

Jiang Temple original: "Jiang Miao." This shrine was dedicated to Jiang Ziwen, a local Han dynasty official who became a powerful protective deity of Nanjing.

The Imperial Academy original: "Guozijian." The Nanjing campus of the national university was one of the largest educational institutions in the world during the Ming Dynasty, housing thousands of students.

Jiming Temple original: "Jiming Si," or the "Temple of the Cockcrow." This ancient Buddhist site sits on Jiming Hill, overlooking Xuanwu Lake.

Temple of Merit original: "Gongde Miao."

Chaoyang Gate original: "Chaoyang Men," the "Gate Facing the Sun." This was the main eastern gate of the Ming city wall, leading toward the Purple Mountain.

Zhengyang Gate original: "Zhengyang Men." The principal southern gate of the inner city wall, aligned with the imperial axis.

Tongji Gate original: "Tongji Men," the "Gate of Universal Relief." Known for its complex, multi-layered defensive barbicans.

Jubao Gate original: "Jubao Men," the "Gate of Gathering Treasures." Now known as Zhonghua Gate, it remains one of the most massive and sophisticated examples of ancient city gate architecture in the world.

Xitian Temple original: "Xitian Si," or the "Temple of the Western Heaven."

Tianxi Temple original: "Tianxi Si." A historic temple that was rebuilt by the Yongle Emperor as the Da Bao'en Temple, home to the famous "Porcelain Tower" of Nanjing.

Key Terms and Locations

Nanjing — Literally the "Southern Capital." It served as the capital of the early Ming Dynasty and remained the secondary capital and cultural heart of the empire after the seat of power moved to Beijing.

Temples and Monasteries — original: "Miaoyu Siguan." A collective term encompassing various types of religious architecture: Miao (ancestral or folk shrines), Yu (grand halls), Si (Buddhist monasteries), and Guan (Daoist monasteries).

Imperial Academy — original: "Guozijian." The highest level of educational administration in the imperial system, where scholars trained for the civil service examinations.

This map is rendered in the traditional "scenic" cartographic style of the Ming and Qing periods. Rather than strict mathematical scale, it emphasizes the relative positions and visual significance of major landmarks. The city is depicted as a fortress, defined by its massive stone walls—the longest such circuit in the world at the time—and punctuated by gates that controlled the flow of commerce and people. The prominence given to temples like Jiming and Tianxi reflects the city's identity as a center of Buddhist learning and imperial patronage.