Xiangyan Temple in Anshan

Xiangyan Temple in Anshan

Xiangyan Temple in Anshan is a cultural tourism attraction.

Located in the southern part of Qianshan, Xiangyan Temple is embraced by surrounding peaks, yet does not feel confined. On the contrary, visitors experience a scene of distinct layers—distant ridges and nearby slopes—creating a sense of profound depth and openness. The Liaoyang County Annals state: “The temple faces the sunny side of the mountain, where mountain flowers flourish profusely. In spring and summer, when blooms cover the hills, the air is rich with their fragrance, hence the name Xiangyan Temple. In the past, it was said that Xiangyan Temple had the most scenic spots of any in the mountain range, ranking as its finest. While Longquan is too narrow, Da’an is rather perilous, and Zuyue lacks winding paths, only Xiangyan offers both an open landscape and the protection of twin cliffs. Its winding paths twist like a bird’s flight, leading you back and forth amidst a sea of trees with dappled shade, where strange rocks occasionally emerge.”

Xiangyan Temple is one of the earliest structures in Qianshan. Legend has it that its construction began during the Tang Dynasty, but it was certainly built no later than the Jin or Yuan Dynasties. The “Twin Peaks Pagoda” on the eastern hill of the temple is a remnant from the Jin Dynasty, making it the oldest surviving structure in Qianshan. The pagoda features exquisite brick carvings, including flying apsaras, and is celebrated for its elegant design—it is one of the temple’s most famous landmarks. In front of the temple lies the tomb pagoda of the Yuan Dynasty monk Xue’an, along with a stele from the Yuán Shèngqìng era. Inside the temple, there are over ten stone steles from the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Historical records indicate that Xiangyan Temple was once destroyed by disaster, and its current site was rebuilt on the ruins of the old one. By the Qing Dynasty, the temple had gained widespread renown. It underwent multiple renovations and expansions during the reigns of Emperors Yongzheng, Qianlong, Daoguang, and Guangxu.

The architectural artistry of Xiangyan Temple has long been admired. Its intricate structure, delicate carvings, and exquisite ornamentation surpass those of other temples in Qianshan. The temple buildings here all feature single-eave flush-gable roofs, with colorful relief carvings on the ridges, mythical beasts along the hip ridges, and bracket sets (including intercolumnar, capital, and corner brackets) beneath the eaves. The “swallowtail” brackets beneath the beams feature openwork designs such as coiled dragons and horned oxen, while the beams and column capitals are adorned with three-tiered upward-curved brackets and vividly colored decorations of animals and flowers. Such masterful carving and ornamentation fully showcase the wisdom and artistic talent of the laboring people.

Xiangyan Temple is home to many historic relics, many of which are tied to the monks who once resided there. As the saying goes, “Great temples produce eminent monks.” Xue’an was one such eminent monk of Xiangyan Temple. The Northeast Literature Collection states: “The monk Xue’an, whose given name was Puguang, courtesy name Yuanhui, and monastic name Xue’an, was a layman surnamed Li from Datong. During the Yuán Dynasty, he was specially appointed as Grand Academician of the Zhaowen Pavilion and bestowed the honorary title of Master Xuangu. Though the Painting Manual only notes his skill in landscape painting—studying under Guan Tong—and bamboo painting—learning from Wen Tong… Xue’an was also adept at calligraphy, particularly in writing the ‘Sutra of the Eight Great Awakenings,’ with bold and vigorous brushstrokes that captured the essence of Yan Zhenqing’s style.” From this, it is clear that Xue’an was a man of considerable talent. The Liaoyang County Annals also recount an anecdote about Xue’an: A native of the Yuan Dynasty, Xue’an came from Jiāzhài in the western ravine of Anshan. In an era of frequent warfare, he served in the military for ten years. One day, returning home late at night, he peered through his window by moonlight and saw his wife lying in bed with a young man, which filled him with rage and thoughts of murder. But then he reconsidered—why be troubled by worldly desires? He decided instead to renounce home and family to sever worldly attachments. He threw his sword beneath the window and became a monk at Sunset Temple in Cuījiātún near Qianshan. When his wife learned of his whereabouts, she brought their daughter to find him, saying, “You wronged me—the person in the bed is our daughter, born after you left.” But Xue’an, now resolved in his Buddhist path, refused to return to secular life. To avoid further entreaties from his wife and daughter, he moved to Xiangyan Temple, where he practiced diligently and attained enlightenment, becoming a revered monk. The “Xue’an Pagoda,” “Old Patriarch Cave,” and “Demon-Subduing Stone” at Xiangyan Temple are all historic sites linked to Xue’an.

Protected Area: Centered on the middle axis of the front hall’s steps, extending 90 meters east to Laolongtan, 112 meters south to the roadside of the temple parking lot, 42 meters west to the foothills beyond the western courtyard wall, and 125 meters north to the foothills of Beita Mountain.

Construction Control Zone: A Class I control zone within 30 meters outside the protected area.

Further Reading:

· Fifth Batch of Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units in Liaoning Province