Temples and Taoist Abbeys in Lichuan

Lichuan was home to numerous temples in ancient times. According to the old county annals:

Among them, four temples — Fushan Temple, Lushan Temple (Miaofa Temple), Shouchang Temple and Xishan Temple (Tianfeng Temple) — were collectively known as the Four Great Temples of Lichuan.

Fushan Temple stands due north of Jiudie Valley on Fushan Mountain in Sheping Township, Lichuan County. First built in 880 AD, the first year of the Guangming reign of the Tang Dynasty, it was originally named Shuanglin Temple. The eminent monk Shi Shaolong lived in seclusion here and became the temple’s founding abbot. During the Dazhong Xiangfu reign of the Song Dynasty (1008–1016), Emperor Zhenzong bestowed the name Fushan Temple upon it. When it was reconstructed in the Yanyou reign of the Yuan Dynasty (1314–1320), the complex consisted of the Heavenly King Hall, Mahavira Hall, Guanyin Halls on both sides, a scripture depository and monk quarters. In the Qing Dynasty, six additional quiet courtyards were built, making it the largest temple in the whole county. At its peak, the temple contained nearly one thousand rooms big and small, housed more than one hundred monks, and owned 300 mu of farmland and over 2,000 mu of mountain forest. Zhu Xi, the great Neo-Confucian scholar of the Song Dynasty, once built a Wuyi Hall beside the temple to deliver lectures.

From the late Qing Dynasty to the period of the Republic of China, the temple gradually declined and many buildings collapsed. After it was approved for religious activities in 1986, believers from all over donated funds to rebuild the Buddha Hall and Guanyin Hall and cast bronze Buddha statues. Incense has lingered once again over Fushan Mountain.

Also called Lushan Temple, Miaofa Chan Temple sits at the foot of Lushan Mountain in Miaofa Village, Hufang Township, covering nearly 30,000 square metres. It was founded in 628 AD, the second year of the Zhenguan reign of the Tang Dynasty, and underwent repeated renovations and expansions. More than 200 monks and nuns once lived here during its golden age.

The existing main buildings consist of three halls: the Heavenly King Hall, Mahavira Hall and Guanyin Hall. Precious cultural relics are still preserved here, including the horizontal plaque inscribed with “Miaofa Chan Temple” carved in 1666 (the fifth year of the Kangxi reign of the Qing Dynasty), and another plaque reading “Solemn Virtues” written by Zhao Puchu, former President of the Buddhist Association of China.

About half a li behind the temple on a small hill lies a forest of stone pagodas. A dozen stone stupas, housing the ashes of eminent monks from different dynasties, scatter across the hillside.

Shouchang Chan Temple is located behind Xianglushan Hamlet in Xiazhai Village, Xunkou Town, more than 20 kilometres from the county seat. Construction began during the Xiantong reign of the Tang Dynasty (860–873), under the original name Yongju Courtyard. Emperor Yingzong of the Northern Song renamed it Shouchang Courtyard. In 1447, the twelfth year of the Zhengtong reign of the Ming Dynasty, Emperor Yingzong granted it the official title Shouchang Chan Temple.

The huge complex covers nearly 30,000 square metres and once included eighteen halls. The newly built temple gate stands 8 metres high and 11 metres wide, majestic and grand enough for a major sacred site.

Also known as Tianfeng Temple, Xishan Temple is situated on Xishan Hill at the front of Rifeng Mountain, on the border between Liu Family Hamlet and Wu Family Hamlet in Xiaqiao Village, Rifeng Town, Lichuan County. This place is famed for its profound Buddhist aura. The temple occupies nearly ten mu of land with a construction area of 2,000 square metres.

According to the New City County Annals, there used to be a narrow flat ridge on the summit of Rifeng Mountain where Tianfeng Temple was erected in the Song Dynasty. Deng Yuanxi, a celebrated Neo-Confucian scholar and writer born in this county, who was later enshrined in local memorial shrines, once studied in this temple. The building fell into ruin in the Xianfeng reign of the Qing Dynasty due to long-term disrepair and fire.

Around 1887 in the mid-Guangxu reign of the Qing Dynasty, the temple was relocated to Xishan Hill at the foot of Rifeng Mountain and renamed Xishan Temple. It became widely famous for its statue of the living monk Ji Gong. Devout believers have come to worship here for generations, with incense burning continuously for over a hundred years.

In the 1990s, as the nation prospered and Buddhism flourished, Master Zhengyun led local villagers to raise donations and rebuild the East and West Halls. In 2012, lay believer Tu Yuhua (Dharma name Rihua) from the county led a group of followers to construct the new Mahavira Hall.

Among Lichuan’s four famous temples symbolizing blessing, rank, longevity and joy, the first three lie deep in rural mountains. Only Xishan Temple stands amid the bustling town.

Changsheng Taoist Abbey perches on the summit of Jinlong Mountain in Hongcun Town. It takes its name from the mountain’s common name, Changsheng Stockade. First founded in 1064, the first year of the Zhiping reign of the Song Dynasty, it received its title personally from Emperor Yingzong of the Song Dynasty. It is the earliest Taoist venue ever built in this county. Many literati and celebrities of ancient times came here to give lectures or devote themselves to reading and writing. The abbey has now been fully renovated and attracts numerous worshippers with burning incense all year round.