Egret Islet Jiu Feng Temple

Egret Islet Jiu Feng Temple

Egret Islet Jiu Feng Temple is a protected cultural heritage site of Nanjing.

Jiu Feng Temple is situated in the northeast corner of Nanjing’s Egret Islet Park. It was built in the fifth year of the Tianshun era of the Ming Dynasty (1461) in honor of the famous Tang Dynasty monk Jiu Feng, and is a protected cultural heritage site of Nanjing. The Egret Islet where the temple is located has a long and storied past — during the Eastern Jin Dynasty, it was home to the Eastern Prefecture City, and during the Liang and Chen Dynasties of the Southern Dynasties, it served as the residence of the high-ranking official and poet Jiang Zong. During the Kaiyuan era (713–741) of the Tang Dynasty, Governor Yan Zhenqing established a release pond for live animals nearby. In the Chunxi era (1174–1189) of the Song Dynasty, Chief Councilor Shi Zhengzhi relocated the release pond to this spot and built pavilions on it.

During the Tianshun era of the Ming Dynasty, Jiu Feng Temple was built next to the release pond and was classified as a mid-level Buddhist monastery, overseeing several smaller temples including Jiongguang Temple, Qianfo Nunnery, and Dazhong Zhengjue Nunnery. At that time, there were notable stone inscriptions such as the “Brief Inscription of Jiu Feng Temple” written by Minister of Rites Zou Gan, and the “Restoration Inscription of Yan Lugong’s Release Pond” engraved by Ge Yinliang, but these no longer exist. The original layout of the Ming Dynasty structures can be glimpsed from the “Brief Inscription of Jiu Feng Temple” by Minister of Rites Zou Gan, as recorded in the “Records of Buddhist Monasteries in Jinling” from the “Jinling Fan Sha Zhi”: “The main Buddha hall had three bays, standing solemn and majestic, with eaves and beams visible from afar. In front of the hall was the Four Heavenly Kings Hall, and behind it was the Vairocana Pavilion. Half of the left corridor housed the Guanyin Hall, flanked by over twenty painted corridors. The other half of the right corridor held the Scripture Depository Hall, also surrounded by more than twenty painted corridors, all adorned with colorful murals. In front of the east corridor stood the bell tower, and in front of the west corridor was the drum tower, with a stone stele erected. Additionally, several acres of land to the east of the main hall were allocated to build a Buddha hall and abbot’s quarters for scripture lectures. There was a dining hall for monks, a prayer hall for worshippers, living quarters for resident monks, and retreat rooms for those in seclusion. A pond encircled the back, and the city wall embraced the left side.”

Since the Ming and Qing Dynasties, Jiu Feng Temple has experienced many rises and declines. Unlike other famous temples, its renown did not stem from imperial favor or association with legendary historical figures, but rather from its own unique qualities. First, it is nestled beside beautiful gardens and landscapes. According to the “Brief Records of the Eastern City,” “Behind Jiu Feng Temple lies Yan Lugong’s release pond, where autumn scenes of misty streams and reed snow are breathtaking, and the rocks bear bold inscriptions reading ‘Land of Ultimate Bliss for Fish.’” Second, despite multiple declines, it has been repeatedly restored, thanks to the devotion of ordinary monks and local people. For instance, during the Ming Dynasty, there was an abbot named Monk Mingche who loved flowers and often planted peonies and tree peonies in the courtyard. Every early summer, he would place the peonies in bamboo vases filled with water amid green foliage, creating a stunning display. In the tenth year of the Wanli era (1582), after Monk Mingche passed away and was cremated, the plants gradually withered, and subsequent floods wiped out what remained. By the end of the Qianlong era in the Qing Dynasty, the eminent monk Dazong arrived and constructed a five-bay Vairocana Pavilion, ushering in a period of revival for the temple. During the Jiaqing era (1796–1820) of the Qing Dynasty, Chan Master Xinghai resided here, strictly observing monastic discipline and upholding the precept against handling money. Under his leadership, the temple flourished once again, frequently hosting lectures on the Avatamsaka Sutra. He later left the temple to travel extensively among famous monasteries and eventually passed away at Jinshan. During the Daoguang era, the temple buildings were repurposed as an old people’s home, and by then the main hall was dilapidated and near collapse. In the fifteenth year of the Daoguang era (1835), local residents Gan Jingzhai and Feng Junyao took the lead in donating funds for reconstruction, adding stone railings around the front terrace of the hall for added stability. Upon completion of the project, the Imperial Censor Cai Youshi wrote a commemorative record, and the Education Commissioner Qi Chunpu inscribed the stele, documenting the temple’s revival.

In the 1930s, Jiu Feng Temple suffered from years of weathering, fire damage, and the construction of a small train track that cut through the heart of the temple grounds, further reducing its size. By the time of the liberation, the once bustling ancient temple had been reduced to just a few dilapidated buildings.

After 1949, Jiu Feng Temple was converted into residential housing for local residents. In 1993, the temple underwent restoration and renovation, with its two-courtyard, three-bay main hall being repaired. Today, a new Mahavira Hall has been added on the original foundation, along with monk dormitories on both sides. The temple has been fully revitalized and is once again thriving with incense offerings. The simple, solemn, yellow-walled and dark-tiled Jiu Feng Chan Temple, nestled among lush pines and clear waters, adds a beautiful touch to the scenery of Egret Islet Park.