Huzhou Iron Buddha Temple

Huzhou Iron Buddha Temple

The Huzhou Iron Buddha Temple is a cultural relic protection unit of Zhejiang Province.

The Iron Buddha Temple is located in the middle section of Laodong Road in downtown Huzhou and is named after a Song Dynasty cast iron statue of Guanyin. This historic temple has a history of more than 1,200 years.

The Iron Buddha Temple, originally named Kaiyuan Temple, was first built during the Kaiyuan era (713–714 AD) of the Tang Dynasty. In the third year of the Tian Sheng reign (1025 AD) of the Northern Song Dynasty, an iron statue of Guanyin was cast in fulfillment of the late monk Jianzhen’s wish and enshrined here, hence the name Iron Buddha Guanyin Temple. In the first year of the Xi Ning reign (1068 AD), it was bestowed the name Shengshou Guanyin Temple. In the 22nd year of the Shaoxing reign (1152 AD) of the Southern Song Dynasty, it was renamed Guangfu Guanyin Temple. At the end of the Yuan Dynasty (1368 AD), it was destroyed in war, leaving only the iron statue of Guanyin. In the second year of the Hongwu reign (1369 AD) of the Ming Dynasty, it was rebuilt and renamed Xilin Iron Buddha Temple. In the eighth year of the Xuande reign (1433 AD), the monk Tanbi cast three iron statues of the Huayan Three Saints — namely Sakyamuni, Manjushri, and Samantabhadra — and established the Ciyun Pavilion, bringing the temple back to prosperity. However, during the Tongzhi reign (1862–1874 AD) of the Qing Dynasty, it was again damaged in war. In the 13th year of the Tongzhi reign (1874 AD), the Guanyin Hall was rebuilt, and in the early years of the Guangxu reign (1875 AD), the Iron Buddha Hall was reconstructed.

In the 30th year of the Republic of China (1941 AD), the monk Hengsen became the 40th abbot of the Iron Buddha Temple. In the 33rd year of the Republic of China (1944 AD), the temple was renovated and 18 new arhat statues were added. The temple also houses precious Buddhist cultural relics such as a Tang Dynasty pagoda, a Yuan Dynasty stone stele (written by the great calligrapher Zhao Mengfu), a Ming Dynasty ancient well, and a Qing Dynasty bronze bell.

Historical records show that eminent monks and scholars such as Master Zanning, poet-monk Jiao Ran, Master Gaofeng, Master Zhongfeng Mingben, Master Ouyi, and National Preceptor Yulin have all praised the Iron Buddha Temple. The outstanding Northern Song Dynasty literary figure, calligrapher, and painter Su Shi, the great Yuan Dynasty calligrapher Zhao Mengfu, and notable figures such as Wu Changshuo and Wang Zhen also spoke highly of the Huzhou Iron Buddha Temple, giving it a significant place in the history of Chinese Buddhism. The temple has also been a sacred site visited regularly by Buddhist delegations from Japan and Korea. Originally covering dozens of acres, the temple had an official land deed for 11 acres in the early years after the liberation. A thousand-year-old ginkgo tree located not far southeast of the temple stands as the best testament to its long history.

After the liberation, the iron statue of Guanyin in the temple was listed as a provincial-level key cultural relic. With the care and support of the Party and government, the two main halls were restored and rebuilt thanks to active fundraising by the city’s Buddhist association and generous donations from all sectors of society and devout believers.

The Iron Buddha Temple currently covers an area of 2,500 square meters. With the joint support of the municipal government and the Urban Planning and Construction Bureau for its renovation, the first phase of construction — including the Iron Buddha Temple Plaza, the Heavenly King Hall, the Bell and Drum Towers, and the surrounding wall — was completed at the end of 2009. The next phases will involve renovating the side rooms, cultural corridor, Guanyin Hall, and Mahavira Hall, presenting the temple in a brand-new look at the heart of Huzhou. It aims to contribute to a harmonious world and a sacred land, shining brilliantly in the establishment of Huzhou as a historical and cultural city.

Aishan Subdistrict: Located in the central business district of Wuxing District, Huzhou City, Zhejiang Province, Aishan Subdistrict stretches from Renmin Road in the east to National Highway 104 in the west, bounded by the city river to the south and Longxi Port to the north. It covers a total area of approximately 3.2 square kilometers, with jurisdiction over 8 community neighborhood committees, a total population of 24,263, and 8,057 households. The subdistrict’s Party committee oversees 5 general branches and 25 Party branches, with 798 registered Party members. It currently has one national model site for creating civilized communities (Hongfeng Xicun), one provincial model urban Party building community (the General Branch of Hongfeng Xicun), and one provincial model neighborhood committee... More details about Aishan Subdistrict++

Further Reading:

· Second Batch of Zhejiang Provincial Cultural Relic Protection Units