Wangshan Baohua Temple

Wangshan Baohua Temple

Wangshan Baohua Temple is a cultural tourism attraction.

Baohua Temple, also known as Zhixian Chan Monastery, is located in Baohua Valley, Xuejiawan, Wangshan Village, thirty li southwest of Wuxian County. The temple was first built in the second year of the Tianjian era during the Liang Dynasty of the Southern Dynasties (503 AD), boasting a history of over 1,500 years. Legend has it that in the year 503, a venerable monk named Hanhuan traveled from India to China, and one day, while passing through Yaofeng, he was delighted to find the mountain here uniquely shaped — with its ridges stretching out to the left in three peaks and to the right in four, resembling a blooming lotus flower. He decided to stay. At that time, a local man named Wu Guang donated his residence to Hanhuan for the establishment of a Buddhist temple, which was then called “Baolin Monastery.”

So how did Baolin Monastery become “Baohua Temple”? It turns out that in the eyes of Buddhists, the lotus is a pure and sacred flower, and lotus patterns are often used to adorn Buddha’s seat. Hanhuan chose to establish the monastery here because of the lotus-like mountain terrain. During the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period, the King of Wuyue renamed “Baolin Monastery” to “Baohua Temple.” Since the character “Hua” (华) was synonymous with “flower” (花) in ancient times, the surrounding peaks and valleys have since been celebrated as Baohua Mountain and Baohua Valley. In the Song Dynasty, because the Zen Master Zhixian once resided here, the temple was also referred to as “Zhixian Chan Monastery.”

Baohua Temple on Baohua Mountain faces the vast waves of Lake Zhenze, backed by the old gardens of Changzhou, flanked on the left by the rugged cliffs of Dongting and on the right by the peaks of Lingyan. Carved dragons and coiled serpents face one another, and ruins are densely clustered. It was once regarded as a prime location in the Three Wu regions. Over the centuries, Baohua Temple experienced several rises and declines. By the Xiangfu era of the Song Dynasty, the temple had deteriorated due to age. The prefectural governor at the time oversaw a major renovation, rebuilding the halls and scripture depositories. The reconstructed temple, with its soaring upturned eaves and golden splendor, was hailed as a magnificent place of worship. By the late Qing and early Republican period, Baolin Temple had again fallen into decline, and the site was taken over by wealthy families and turned into a graveyard. Later, a small new temple was built on the original site, but it too gradually fell into disrepair. Ancient relics of Baohua Temple, such as Hahan Bridge, Hahan Well, Hahan Spring, Hahan Pagoda, and Zhixian Pagoda, were also gradually demolished. Today, apart from Hahan Spring, which still flows with fresh water, all other historical structures have vanished.

The current Baohua Temple was rebuilt with investment from Wangshan Village. The original site was restored with new halls and Buddha statues, gardens were planted, bridges were constructed, and streams were redirected. Hahan Spring was also dredged and protected with a pavilion built around it. After reconstruction, Baohua Temple has largely regained its former appearance, and Hahan Spring once again flows with crystal-clear water.