Wanshan Yunque Temple

Wanshan Yunque Temple

Wanshan Yunque Temple is a cultural tourism attraction.

Yunque Temple, located at the southern foot of Wanshan in the southwest of Yangjian Town, Wuxi, was first built during the Tang Dynasty and has a history of over 1,000 years. It was once a grand and bustling ancient temple renowned throughout the Jiangnan region. Legend has it that the main gate of Yunque Temple stood near Guanwang Hall by the shores of Diaozhu Ferry (now a dry field still called Guanwangjiao, with remnants of rubble and stone revetments visible along the riverbank), while the rear gate was situated at the foot of the northern side of Wanshan, stretching about three kilometers. The temple complex included structures such as Guanwang Hall, Maitreya Hall, and the Scripture Depository, with dozens of halls forming a magnificent and picturesque monastic complex nestled among mountains and waters. It reportedly had a total of 5,048 rooms, over 1,000 monks, and more than a thousand acres of temple fields. The grounds were shaded by ancient trees, blooming with flowers, crossed by small bridges and flowing streams, and crisscrossed with winding paths. During its peak years of incense offerings, the sounds of bells and drums echoed, Buddhist chants filled the air, and pilgrims crowded the pathways without end. Especially during the Qingming Festival, throngs of worshippers flocked to the temple like a tide, creating an unprecedented spectacle. Yunque Temple became a widely famed sacred Buddhist destination.

During the Yuan Dynasty, Emperor Taiding visited Yunque Temple in disguise and observed its vast courtyards, numerous monks, and found that every monk was skilled in martial arts with exceptional combat abilities — a place truly teeming with hidden talents. Worried about potential unrest in the future, he shot an imperial arrow inscribed with the character "fire" onto the temple’s roof ridge. The abbot, Master Lai Feng, understanding the emperor’s intention, chose to set fire to the temple to save the lives of its inhabitants. After the disaster, local devotees rebuilt Yunque Temple in the Ming Dynasty at the southern foot of Wanshan, but the reconstructed complex only had three or four sections, far less grand than before. Later, three additional halls were built on Wanshan, reviving the incense offerings. Hence, folk tradition came to distinguish between the “Upper Temple” and “Lower Temple” of Yunque. The temple originally housed ancient trees such as a Tang-era apricot, Song-era plum, Yuan-era osmanthus, and Ming-era boxwood, none of which survive today.

In the 26th year of the Jiajing reign of the Ming Dynasty, a local man named Gu Dadong built a hexagonal seven-story stone pagoda atop Wanshan, named the “Filial Pagoda.” The top of the pagoda originally held a stone basin containing a single Seven-Star Carp, which was fed monthly by hauling water up via a ladder. By the Kangxi era, the pagoda was struck by lightning, damaging one corner and killing the carp.

Surrounded by mountains and waters, the western side of the Upper Temple features a stone pool whose waters remain clear and abundant year-round. The black stones in the pool are fine and solid enough to be used for inkstones, and it is said that the famous Tang Dynasty calligrapher Zhang Xu once practiced his brushwork here, giving the pool the name “Ink Pool.” To the west of the pool, a mountain stream is spanned by stone slabs four to five feet long, known as the “Immortal Bridge” due to the hermits who once lived there. Over centuries, these relics have faded away, leaving only the stone pagoda standing proudly atop Wanshan.

The monks of Yunque Temple, influenced by Wu culture, often played musical instruments for leisure after chanting and labor. Over time, this evolved into a distinctive melody rich with the charm of the Jiangnan water towns — fresh and melodious. This music was later performed by monks during temple fairs and festivals, gradually spreading to the public and becoming one of the eight great masterpieces of Jiangnan Sizhu music, known as the “Yunque” score.

In the early years of the Republic of China, the temple was temporarily used as a school, and someone composed a couplet and accompanying prose. The couplet reads: “Like trees standing tall, nurturing people with diligent teachings; borrowing fine mountains and waters to joyfully cultivate talent.”

The prose reads: “The essence of Wanshan, the spirit of Yunque; the ancient name of Qinchuan, the new name of Changshu. To the east lies Yushan, home to the ancient traces of Zhou Zhongyong; to the west neighbors Jiaodian, where the tomb of Yin Jiaoge remains; to the south gaze the vast waves of Xiedang; to the north stretches the open road of the Shanghai-Wuxi route. Above stands the lofty stone pagoda; within lies the deep and gleaming pool. Rising early to climb the hillside, one delights in the shepherd boy’s flute; returning in the evening past the marsh, one enjoys the fisherman’s song. Classrooms housed in mountain temples, playgrounds set in woods. Morning light bathes the classrooms, shimmering upon the temple peaks; evening sun shines on the fields, scattering crimson reflections through the trees. Wanshan is vast and majestic, a land of outstanding people and divine aura. The joy of Wanshan is boundless, the scenery of Yunque full of feeling. This sublime realm of Wanshan brings both delight and emotion.”

The prose and couplet, scattered yet elegant, showcase remarkable literary flair. Unfortunately, neither bears the author’s name, making them anonymous works. According to elderly residents, these writings remained on the temple walls even after the victory of the Anti-Japanese War.

After the liberation, the monks of Yunque Temple were disbanded and returned to secular life, and the temple became the campus of Wanshan Primary School. In 1975, all temple buildings were demolished and relocated to rebuild Wanshan Primary School. The ancient Yunque Temple was leveled. In 1997, devotees constructed a Buddhist activity site in the southeastern part of Wanshan, but the humble facilities and limited space could not meet the needs of religious activities. In 2002, with approval from the former Religious Affairs Bureau of Xiushan City, Yunque Temple was officially rebuilt, allowing the thousand-year-old temple to shine anew.

Transportation Guide

Attraction Address: Yijie Street, Wanshan Community, Yangjian Town, Xishan District, Wuxi City, Jiangsu Province

Transit Routes: Take bus 728 within Wuxi City and get off at Dacheng Road Station, then transfer to a taxi or minibus to reach Yijie Street in Wanshan.