Wujiang Sizhou Chan Temple

Wujiang Sizhou Chan Temple

Wujiang Sizhou Chan Temple is a cultural tourism attraction.

“To the east of the lake lies Sizhou, an islet atop which stands an ancient temple. The faint sound of its bell drifts across the vastness — this is known as the ‘Morning Bell of Sizhou.’” Regarding the origins of Sizhou Temple, Zhao Kuan (457–1505) wrote in his *Record of the Reconstruction of the Mahavira Hall at Sizhou Temple* that it was founded by a revered Buddhist bodhisattva named Sizhou. Sizhou Chan Temple is situated in Luxu Town, beside Fenhu Lake. It serves as the eastern gateway of Wujiang, at the junction of Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Shanghai. Just a hundred meters south of the town, crossing Luxu Pond leads to Zhejiang, while the Shanghai border is less than a five-minute drive to the east. National Highway 318 runs through the town, connecting southward to the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal and extending along the shores of Taihu Lake to Huzhou. A one-hour drive westward reaches Suzhou, making transportation extremely convenient. The ancient temple was built on Sizhou, an islet surrounded by water on two sides, connected only at the southeast corner of the small embankment to Bingziwei. It seems the temple derived its name from the location. Until several years after the liberation, the front and rear halls of Sizhou Temple still hung large bronze and iron bells. The resonant, melodious tolling of the ancient temple’s bells deeply moved devotees and attracted visitors throughout history.

Sizhou Chan Temple was established in the second year of the Jinglong era during the Tang Dynasty (708 AD), boasting over 1,300 years of history. It has undergone multiple reconstructions, expansions, and renovations. After being rebuilt by the monk Faxing during the Kaixi era of the Northern Song Dynasty (1017–1021 AD), it attracted a succession of eminent monks. During the Shao Ding era of the Southern Song Dynasty (1228–1233 AD), the monk Wenmei also raised funds for repairs. In April 1349 (March of the ninth year of the Zhizheng era), literati such as Yang Weizhen visited Fenhu Lake and composed *Inscription on Bamboo* at Sizhou Temple. During the Hongwu era of the Ming Dynasty (1368–1398 AD), seven temples in the eastern part of Wujiang — Qianfen, Faxing, Liuxing, Nanxun, Shanju, Fahua, and Yuantong — were incorporated under Sizhou Temple. In 1404 and 1405 (the first and third years of the Yongle era), Xia Yuanji, Minister of Revenue and a loyal statesman, stayed at Sizhou Temple several times while managing flood control efforts in southern Jiangnan.

During the Zhengtong era (1436–1449 AD), the temple suffered extensive damage and, not long after, its main structures were destroyed in a fire in 1457 (the first year of the Tianshun era), leaving only the monks’ living quarters to barely sustain operations. Starting in the early Hongzhi era, the monk Huizhan raised funds and began reconstructing the Mahavira Hall in 1497 (the tenth year of the Hongzhi era), completing it after five years. Zhao Kuan, an official from the Ministry of Punishments, composed *The Record of the Reconstruction of the Mahavira Hall at Sizhou Temple*, which was inscribed and erected as a stele. During the Tianqi era (1621–1627 AD), the Guanyin Hall was added. In 1635 (the Year of the Pig, Yi Hai year, of the Chongzhen era), local residents Ye Shaoyuan, Ye Shaozhen, and the temple monk Jianyuan initiated the addition of the Meditation Hall.

In 1699 (the Year of the Rabbit, Yi Mao year, of the Kangxi era during the Qing Dynasty), local resident Xu Shou and others raised funds for another renovation. By the end of 1861, the main hall had collapsed, with few remaining structures. In the spring of 1918 (the seventh year of the Republic of China), Abbot Wuming, along with locals Lu Yongshu, Liu Ronghua, and Wang Guoguang, initiated fundraising to rebuild the Mahavira Hall. On November 30, Liu Yazi and others revisited Fenhu Lake and took photographs of the front hall.

Since 1950, the remaining dilapidated structures of the temple had been occupied by the grain management office, with the main hall and monks' quarters completely demolished. In 1977, the Luxu government, recognizing Sizhou Chan Temple as the most significant Buddhist site at Fenhu Lake and responding to public demand, decided to relocate the temple due to the deterioration of the original site and land redevelopment for residential housing. It was moved to Caoliwei in Caoli Village, Luxu Town, where a new Buddhist activity venue was constructed. After three years of effort, on January 10, 2001, the Wujiang Municipal Religious Affairs Bureau officially designated the “Religious Activity Venue at Caoliwei, Luxu Town, Wujiang” as “Wujiang Luxu Sizhou Chan Temple.”

Today, located in Luxu, Wujiang Fenhu Economic Development Zone, Sizhou Chan Temple is close to Shanghai and Zhejiang. With convenient transportation and access in all directions, the temple has, over the past decade with government support and generous donations from patrons, built a mountain gate, Mahavira Hall, Heavenly King Hall, Liuwang Hall, Reclining Buddha Hall, Yuantong Hall, Three Saints Hall, Guanyin Hall, Jade Buddha Tower, and Zhengjue Tower.

Transportation Guide

Attraction Address: No. 1618 Xinyou Road, Luxu Town, Wujiang District, Suzhou City, Jiangsu Province