Xiyang Village

Xiyang Village

On the west bank of the Jialiang River in Xinyang Village, Jianyang Town, Jianhu County, there is a small island covering an area of over fifty acres. A Tai Shan Temple was built on the island. Because it is located near the ancient Xinyangpu (river), the temple was named after the river and called Tai Shan Temple of Xinyang Village. The ancient temple was long ago destroyed in war. Since the temple is situated on the west bank of the Jialiang River in Xinyang Village, people commonly refer to the area as Xiyang Village.

Tai Shan Temple is also known as the Dongyue Temple. According to the 1593 edition of the Yan Cheng County Annals from the Ming Dynasty: "There were five Dongyue Temples in ancient Yan: one outside the West Gate, one in Wuyou Market, one in Shanggang Town, one in Beilonggang, and one in Xinyang Village." In 1990, with the approval of the Jianhu County People's Government, Tai Shan Temple was rebuilt on its original site. Over time, structures such as the Guanyin Hall, Scripture Recital Hall, Kṣitigarbha Hall, Dining Hall, and Monks’ Quarters were constructed. A perimeter wall was built around the temple, and Buddha statues were brought in from other regions. Later, Myanmar donated three jade Buddha statues, including a two-ton reclining Buddha. Plans are underway to build a Jade Buddha Pavilion. Xiyang Village also has six branch temples spread across regions south and north of the Yangtze River, with a total of over 300 monks. Its large scale and wide influence make it the only one of its kind north of the Yangtze, earning it the title “The Foremost Temple North of the River.”

Today, monks from Xiyang Village temples located elsewhere still pay close attention to the restoration of Tai Shan Temple. In the winter of 1985, Master Zhengguo, then 79 years old and the former abbot of Tai Shan Temple, visited the old site from Beijing with his disciples, expressing a desire to contribute to the reconstruction of the temple. In recent years, tens of thousands of worshippers visit the temple during the annual "March 3" Incense Festival.