Zhaoxian Chan Temple

Zhaoxian Chan Temple

Zhaoxian Chan Temple is a cultural tourism attraction.

Zhaoxian Chan Temple is located on the picturesque Emei Mountain, about 20 kilometers north of Luhe District. It was first built during the Jingtai era (1450–1456) of the Ming Dynasty and has a history of nearly 600 years.

During the Ming Dynasty, the temple was bustling with worshippers, drawing many visitors who came to pray and sightsee. Throughout the Ming and Qing Dynasties, the temple was well maintained and renovated. In the Yongzheng era (1723–1735) of the Qing Dynasty, Monk Mingchang oversaw the reconstruction of the temple and erected a stele commemorating the renovation. To protect the temple’s natural surroundings and prevent deforestation, the monks submitted a petition to the local county government in the 27th year of the Daoguang era (1846), which caught the attention of the then magistrate of Luhe County. As a result, a stone stele inscribed with “By Imperial Order” was erected inside the temple, requiring local residents to comply with its regulations. This stele is still embedded in the northern wall of the main hall today.

During the Guangxu era of the Qing Dynasty, the temple had fallen into disrepair and was in a state of disarray. Monks Liyuan and Wuquan, carrying a document issued by the local government, went to Gaoyou to solicit donations. At one wealthy household, they fasted and went without sleep for three days while continuously beating their wooden fish. When the homeowners sent someone to inquire, Liyuan explained their mission. However, because the document was not issued by the Yizheng government, the homeowners refused to meet them and even accused Liyuan of being an imposter. Enraged and driven by his determination to restore the temple, Liyuan chopped off his left hand with a kitchen knife as a display of sincerity. His act moved the homeowners, who arranged for his treatment and personally transported the renovation workers and materials to the temple by boat, covering all associated expenses. It is said that Liyuan’s severed left hand was preserved in the temple but was destroyed during the Cultural Revolution.

In 1982, a monk came to renovate the temple. Initially, there was nothing at the site, so he subsisted on wild vegetables and endured extremely harsh conditions. Because of his strong resolve, open-mindedness, and approachability, the monk made many friends and gained the support of numerous local lay followers and prominent individuals, who generously donated funds for the restoration. Within two or three years, the north wing room was repaired, the south wing room was newly built, and the main hall was reconstructed. Under the leadership of this external monk, the temple gradually flourished. After the monk passed away, Monk Dehua continued his mission, expanding the front hall from three rooms to seven, adding thirty-five Buddha statues, and installing red-lacquered wooden shrines for the three great Buddhas in the main hall, as well as for Maitreya and Skanda in the front hall. He also improved the surrounding activity areas and natural environment, and cleared the access road to the temple.

After more than 20 years of restoration efforts, Zhaoxian Temple has gradually regained its overall structure. In the front hall, Maitreya and Skanda stand in the center, flanked by the seated statues of the Four Heavenly Kings. The main hall, consisting of nine bays and three sections, houses three large gilded Buddha statues in the central red-lacquered shrine, with the Three Saints of the West and Thousand-Armed Guanyin on either side, and the vivid Eighteen Arhats lining the walls. The four golden characters reading “Zhaoxian Chan Temple” shine brightly above the entrance of the front hall, facing a grand screen wall. Between the front and main halls lies a spacious courtyard with four symmetrically arranged flower stands and a heavenly incense burner in the center. On the north side are three dining rooms, while the reception room stands centrally on the south. Outside the temple, in the southeastern corner, stands a 230-year-old ginkgo tree, surrounded by 5,300 square meters of recreational and parking space, with dense forests providing a cool summer retreat and a tranquil place for meditation and self-cultivation.

Transportation Guide: Temple Address: Emei Mountain, 20 kilometers north of Luhe District, Nanjing City, Jiangsu Province