Zhayin Temple

Zhayin Temple

Zhayin Temple is a cultural tourism attraction.

Zhayin Temple is located on Zhayin Mountain (also known as Shouku Mountain) in the Nanshan Scenic Area of Zhenjiang City, Jiangsu Province. It was originally built from the private residence of Dai Kui, a renowned artist of the Northern and Southern Dynasties. The temple currently preserves scenic spots such as the Reading Platform, Zenghua Pavilion, Tiger Running Spring, Evergreen Pavilion, Deer Running Spring, Rushi Pavilion, Yurui Pavilion, and Niaowai Pavilion.

The surrounding area is serene, densely forested, and home to many birds. Throughout history, literati and notable figures have left behind numerous precious relics and literary masterpieces here. Among them, Crown Prince Zhaoming of the Liang Dynasty invited a gathering of scholars to compile China’s first literary anthology, the Wenxuan, here; the great Northern Song Dynasty calligraphers and painters Mi Fu and his son Mi Youren lived in this area for over forty years and founded the “Mi Family Cloudy Mountains” painting school; Dai Kui, a renowned sculptor and musician of the Eastern Jin and Liu Song Dynasties, lived in seclusion on Zhayin Mountain, composing three timeless musical pieces—Youxian, Guangling, and Zhi xi. Emperor Wu of the Song Dynasty, Liu Yu, repeatedly invited him to serve in office, but Dai Kui declined each time. This is the origin of the temple’s name, Zhayin (literally “Secluded Retreat”). Zhayin Mountain showcases the unique hermit culture of the ancient city of Zhenjiang, making it a sacred site of Chinese hermit culture.