[1][2][3] The site is just outside the walls of the ancient Eastern Han capital, some 12–13 kilometres (7.5–8.1 mi) east of Luoyang in Henan Province.

The display plaques in Chinese and English give ample descriptions of the Buddhist deities installed in the halls.

[9][10] Notably, the emperor ordered the suffix 寺 (pinyin: sì) to be used in the temple's name, as a display of respect.

[14] It is possible, but unprovable, that the name Baima derived from some of these peoples, who may have been influenced by Buddhism at an early period, rather than from literal white horse(s) carrying scriptures.

Yang Hsüan-chih says in the preface to his book, A Record of the Buddhist Monasteries of Lo-yang (completed c. 547 CE), that, after his dream, Emperor Ming ordered that statues of the Buddha be erected at the [K'ai-]yang Gate (Opening to the Morning Sun Gate) of the Southern Palace and on near the [Ch'ang]yeh Terrace (The Eternal Night Terrace).

The Emperor saw, in the southwestern region of China, a very bright light in the sky, like a halo or aureola from the west which lit the whole space.

In 60 CE, on an auspicious day, the Emperor had a vision (dream) of a saintly person of golden complexion with the Sun and the Moon shining behind his back came near his throne from the heavens and then circled his palace.

This incident was correlated with the ancient recorded version and the events were interpreted to mean that the period prophesied in the past, of Buddhism coming to China, was now.

History chronicler Fu Hi interpreted this vision as that of the divine person known as Buddha who was born in a place to the west of China in India.

Emperor Mingdi forthwith selected emissaries named Taai Yin, Tain King, Wangtrun and others, in all 18 people, to go toward the west to India in search of the religion practiced by Buddha.

[9] Now that there are many contradictory versions of this story, most modern scholars accept it as a Buddhist fable and not a valid historical event.

[24] Buddhism evolved in China after arriving from India, as a blend of Chinese beliefs and needs, particularly in respect of its folk heritage.

[25] In 258 a royal Kuchean monk, Po-Yen, translated six Buddhist texts into Chinese at the temple, including the important Infinite Life Sutra.

The famous Indo-Scythian Buddhist translator Dharmarakṣa (Chinese: 竺法護; pinyin: Zhú Fǎhù), active ca.

During his stay, apart from his teaching duties and other religious activities at the temple, he translated many Buddhist scriptures that he had brought from India, skillfully rendering Sanskrit into Chinese.

[5] In 1175, an inscription on a stone tablet next to Qilun Pagoda—a 35 metres (115 ft) tall, multi-eaved square-based tower to the southeast of the White Horse Temple—stated that a fire occurred five decades previously and destroyed the temple and the Sakya Tathagata sarira stupa, a predecessor to the pagoda.

He was permitted to visit parts of the country on a tour for propaganda purposes, to show to the outside world that all was normal within China.

[28] As an ardent Buddhist, Sihanouk expressed a wish to Premier Zhou Enlai to visit the White Horse Temple.

[30] To enhance the Buddhist cultural links between India and China, a memorandum of understanding (MOU) was signed on 11 April 2005.

[32] The temple faces south and is aligned along a central axis starting from the entrance gate followed by several halls and courtyards in succession.

[6] Entering the temple today, plaques (in English and Chinese) and signposts are seen, which guide the visitors and pilgrims through the halls.

The present building dates back to the Ming dynasty and was built with a xieshan style roof with double eaves.

In addition, a total of 5,050 wood-carved Buddha statues, made with incense ash, are enshrined on both sides of the pavilion.

The terrace also has the Kunlu Pavilion with halls on its east and west that house the statues of the two eminent monks, She Moteng and Zhu Falan.

Multicoloured tapestry hang from the ceilings of the halls and lighted candles float in the basins, presenting a divine spiritual setting.

The 1.6 metres (5.2 ft) tall image made in jade was donated in 1988 by a Chinese man who had settled in Burma.

[1][3][6][29] The tomb of the famous Tang dynasty official Di Renjie is also located in the eastern end of the complex.

While the chief abbot stays informed about the country's political situation through a TV installed in his room, monks dwelling in this facility are required to carry an identification card at all times.

[1] A stone statue of Maitreya, which was made in the 6th century, was stolen and lost to the United States, now it is preserved at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.

The legend linked to this festival is that peony flower did not follow the orders of the queen Empress Wu of the Tang dynasty to bloom during winter and she became enraged that it did not obey her command.