Baoshan Temple

Baoshan Temple

Baoshan Temple is a cultural tourism attraction.

Baoshan Chan Temple is located in Baoshanwu, northwest of Linwudong. Historical records state that the temple was initially built in the early Southern Dynasties, originally called Fuyuan Temple, and was formally constructed in the second year of the Datong era of the Liang Dynasty (536). In the ninth year of the Shangyuan era of the Tang Dynasty, Emperor Gaozong of Tang, Li Zhi, granted the temple the name “Xianqing Chan Temple.” Since the Western Hills are entirely encircled by water and are commonly referred to as Baoshan, and this temple is the largest on the mountain, Emperor Suzong of Tang, Li Heng, later bestowed upon it the name Baoshan Temple. The surrounding valley was also named Baoshanwu, a name that has been used to this day. From the Tang Dynasty to the Qing Dynasty, Baoshan Temple was renowned as one of the famous temples in the Jiangnan region, producing many eminent monks. The temple also experienced multiple cycles of prosperity and decline. In the early years after the liberation, Baoshan Temple was listed as a key cultural relic protection unit of Jiangsu Province. During the Cultural Revolution, the temple was destroyed. Reconstruction began in 1995, and by autumn 1999, it was largely completed, with the official consecration ceremony held on October 23.

During the Shunzhi era of the Qing Dynasty, the abbot of Baoshan Temple, Monk Shanxiao, was summoned to the capital to preside over Buddhist ceremonies for the funeral of Consort Donggo. He earned the appreciation of Emperor Shunzhi and was granted the imperial calligraphy “Jingfo” (Respect the Buddha), which became a treasured relic of the temple. The current “Jingfo” stele on the Yumo Pavilion of Shigong Mountain was carved in the Guangxu era based on a faithful tracing of the original. In 1937, when the Anti-Japanese War broke out, to prevent over forty crates of precious ancient books from the Suzhou Library from falling into the hands of the Japanese invaders, they were moved and hidden in the Manyue Pavilion of Baoshan Temple. The abbot, Wen Da, braved dangers and spent eight years ensuring the preservation of these cultural relics, earning recognition and commendation from the provincial government and education department of the Republic of China’s Jiangsu Province. The temple also houses a woodblock-printed Tripitaka from the Ming Dynasty’s Wanli era, commonly known as the Wanli Tripitaka, Jiaxing Tripitaka, or Jingshan Tripitaka. It is one of only two most complete surviving sets in China and is extremely precious. It is currently preserved in the Nanjing Museum.

Baoshan Temple has a long history and was once grand in scale. It is said that at its peak, the temple had 1,048 monastic quarters. Wang? of the Song Dynasty wrote in “A Brief Record of Baoshan Chan Monastery,” “Since the Six Dynasties, this monastery has been a sacred place,” “A great sangha monastery sheltering a thousand monks.” By the late Qing Dynasty, the monks were divided into six halls, arranged from bottom to top as Jingshan Hall, Nianhua Hall, Chan Hall, Dayun Hall, Lower Xihouse, and Upper Xihouse, collectively known as Xianqing Chan Forest, with the Dayun Hall section serving as the main temple. Aside from the Mountain Gate Hall, Heavenly King Hall, Mahavira Hall, and Dayun Hall, the temple complex also included Kongcui Pavilion, Nengui Pavilion, Patriarch Hall, Xiangzheng Pavilion, Ningxiang Pagoda Courtyard, and Wenjing Mountain Room. Many literati throughout the dynasties visited Baoshan Temple and left behind poems, such as Pi Rixiu, Lu Guimeng, Fan Chengda, Wang Chong, Shen Deqian, Ye Shengtao, Tian Han, and Zhou Shoujuan. From the late Qing Dynasty to the early years after liberation, the abbots of Baoshan Temple were, in succession, Taixu, Daxiu, Wendao, and Yungu. The temple once had many inscribed plaques and couplets, the most famous of which, aside from the imperial “Jingfo” calligraphy, was the Dayun Hall couplet written by Yu Jue, a renowned calligrapher of Shihu from the late Qing Dynasty: “There are not many delicacies—white rice, fragrant vegetables, and bitter tea; I hear it is so—the sound of pine wind, birdsong, and spring water.”

After the destruction of Baoshan Temple, many devotees still came to the ruins to offer incense. After the Taihu Bridge was opened to traffic in 1994, preparations for the reconstruction of Baoshan Temple began. In July 1995, the Baoshan Chan Temple Restoration Preparatory Group was established. Zhao Puchu, Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference and President of the Buddhist Association of China, inscribed the temple name and the plaque for the Mahavira Hall. On October 15, 1995, the restoration project officially commenced. The project was funded by the Xishan Town Tourism Development Service Company and designed and constructed by Suzhou Xiangshan Ancient Architecture Group. The first phase mainly included the Mountain Gate Hall, Heavenly King Hall, Mahavira Hall, enclosing walls, some auxiliary rooms, roads, etc., covering a total of 70 acres of land with a total investment of 10 million yuan. In May 1997, the main structures of the first phase were completed, and the second phase began. The second phase mainly involved Buddha statues, side rooms, memorial archways, scripture depositories, the Dayun Hall, Jade Buddha Hall, Patriarch Hall, Imperial Stele Pavilion, Bell Tower, Drum Tower, various utensils and supporting facilities, parking lots, roads, etc., with a total investment of nearly 10 million yuan as well. On October 23, 1999, Baoshan Temple held a grand consecration ceremony for the Buddha statues. Master Guanche served as the abbot, and the temple housed over 40 monks.

After reconstruction, in front of the mountain gate of Baoshan Chan Temple is an Incense and Flower Bridge, below which runs a mountain stream. At the center of the mountain gate is enshrined the Laughing Buddha (an incarnation of Maitreya Bodhisattva). The Heavenly King Hall features Maitreya Bodhisattva’s true form, Ajita, in the center, with Skanda Bodhisattva at the back, and the Four Heavenly Kings on both sides. The Mahavira Hall has the Three World Buddhas in the center: Sakyamuni in the middle, Bhaisajyaguru (Medicine Buddha) on the east, and Amitabha Buddha on the west. The attendants of Sakyamuni are Kasyapa and Ananda. Behind the Three World Buddhas is the Sea Island Guanyin, featuring Guanyin Bodhisattva, Sudhana, Dragon Girl, and the Twenty Devas. On both sides are the Eighteen Arhats, as well as Manjushri and Samantabhadra. The Scripture Depository (Manyue Pavilion) is located behind the main hall, with the Imperial Stele Pavilion to its west. The Jade Buddha Hall is situated southwest of the main hall and houses a white marble Sakyamuni. The Patriarch Hall is located south of the Jade Buddha Hall and enshrines the First Patriarch, Bodhidharma.

Transportation Guide

Scenic Area Address: Xishan Town, Wuzhong District, Suzhou City, Jiangsu Province

Transit Routes: Take bus lines 69, 694, 695, 698, etc. within Suzhou City and get off at Baoshan Temple Station.

Suzhou Xishan Scenic Area

Linwudong

Suzhou Shigong Mountain

Mingyue Bay Ancient Village, Taihu Xishan

Xishan Carved Flower Building (Renben Hall)

Taihu Xishan Shuiyue Chan Temple

Taihu Xishan Luohan Temple

Taihu Xishan Piaomiao Peak Scenic Area