Jiuding Longquan Temple

Jiuding Longquan Temple

Jiuding Longquan Temple is a national AAA-level tourist attraction and a cultural tourism site.

Jiuding Longquan Temple (Longquan Mountain City) is a national AAA-level tourist attraction, located in Majiazhai Town, 27 kilometers southeast of Kaiyuan City, at the southern foot of Xiangya Mountain behind Majiazhai Village. In ancient times, this was a Goguryeo mountain fortress, surrounded by nine peaks on all sides, facing south with its back to the north, resembling a dragon throne. In front lies a low hill that looks like a dragon’s writing desk, lying horizontally across the temple. At its feet lies a pool of emerald water, over 130 meters in diameter, which never dries up in drought nor overflows in flood — a truly magical sight. Hence the name Jiuding Longquan Temple.

According to the Xianfeng-era edition of the "Kaiyuan County Annals": “Majiazhai Fort: sixty li southeast of the county, ruins still remain.” The 1995 edition of the "Kaiyuan County Annals" states: “Houshan Fort Ruins: located in Majiazhai Village, Majiazhai Township, a heritage site from the Goguryeo era.” The "Fengtian General Annals" records: “The source of the Jinjiagou River lies seventy li south of the county seat at Shuangtai Ridge. It flows westward past the south of Majiazhai Village, where in a hollow north of the village lies Longquan Temple, known as a scenic highlight of the county.”

According to the "Record of the Reconstruction of Longquan Temple," “Kaiyuan’s Longquan Temple is an ancient temple passed down through history.” It also notes: “In the early years of the Kangxi reign of the Qing Dynasty, the 49th year of Qianlong, and the 4th year of Daoguang, villagers and pilgrims from the county donated funds for three reconstructions and expansions.” From this, it is inferred that the temple was built no later than the Ming Dynasty and has a history of at least 400 years to date.

On the second day of the second lunar month in 2006, Venerable Master Tongjing took over the reconstruction of Longquan Temple. In 2007, the foundation of the Mahavira Hall was laid; in September 2009, it was completed and the grand consecration ceremony for all the Buddha statues was held. In September 2010, the Scripture Depository was completed, and a celebration for its completion and the enshrinement of scriptures was held. On the seventh day of the seventh lunar month in 2016, the rededication ceremony was held for the newly gilded Buddha statues in the Mahavira Hall, the inauguration of the Five Hundred Arhats Hall and the Ten Thousand Buddhas Pagoda, and the consecration of sacred images.

The construction scale of Longquan Temple is grand, covering an area of more than 16,000 square meters, with a building area of over 4,000 square meters. The overall architectural layout consists of three courtyards. Entering through the mountain gate under the Kuixing Tower is the first courtyard. Upon entering the temple, there is a welcoming pine that greets all who come and go. The architectural complex of the first courtyard includes the City God Temple, Chariot God Temple, Road God Temple, Tai Sui Temple, Fire God Temple, Dharma Protection Hall, Grand Theater Stage, Dragon Sculpture, and Liberation Pond.

Entering from the Heavenly King Hall is the second courtyard. On either side of the Heavenly King Hall are two doors, making four in total, symbolizing the Four Immeasurables (earth, water, fire, wind) in Buddhism. Inside the Heavenly King Hall are enshrined the Maitreya Buddha and the guardian deity Skanda, with the Four Heavenly Kings on both sides. After entering the second courtyard, the bell tower and drum tower stand on either side, with the Guanyin Hall, Guest Hall, and Dining Hall in the east wing, and the Sangharama Hall in the west wing, while other rooms serve as monks’ quarters. At the front of the second courtyard is the Mahavira Hall, whose main structure has two levels. The upper level of the Mahavira Hall is a double-eaved hip-and-gable roof structure, surrounded by corridors, with thirty white marble carved dragon pillars, dragon spouts, and balustrades all made from white marble. Below on the east side is the Chanting Hall, and on the west side is the Dharma Hall. The central deities enshrined in the Mahavira Hall are the Trikaya Buddhas: Vairocana Buddha, Locana Buddha, and Shakyamuni Buddha. Behind them is the Ao Fish Guanyin. On the east side are enshrined Manjushri Bodhisattva and Guanyin Bodhisattva, and on the west side are Samantabhadra Bodhisattva and Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, with the Twenty-Four Heavenly Guardians on both sides.