In the mid-summer of 1937, Laing Sicheng and Lin Huiyin returned to China after studying abroad. They explored Wutaishan, Shanxi and discovered a secluded ancient temple in hidden within the deep mountains. They discovered that the temple was originally called Foguang Temple.
They were able to establish that the Great East Hall of the temple was constructed in 857 AD, which was during the Tang Dynasty which overturned the academic assertion made by Japanese scholars that “there are no timber structures from the Tang dynasty in China”.
The rareity of the find caused Laing Sicheng to proclaim tis site “As the most important national treasure of China”.
