Mingzhao Temple

Mingzhao Temple

Mingzhao Temple is a cultural tourism attraction.

The Mingzhao culture originated in the Eastern Jin Dynasty, flourished in the Southern Song Dynasty, and has been passed down to the present day, marking an important milestone in the development of traditional Confucian culture in China. Wuyi’s Mingzhao Temple, also known as Hui’an Temple or Zhijue Temple, commonly referred to as Mingzhao Temple, was first built in the early years of the Xianning era during the Eastern Jin Dynasty. County records state that Ruan Fu, the great-grandson of Ruan Ji—one of the “Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove” from the Eastern Jin—resigned from his post as governor of Guangzhou on his way there, chose to live in seclusion on Mingzhao Mountain, and in his later years donated his residence to build Hui’an Temple. By the reign of Emperor Qianlong in the Qing Dynasty, the temple was renamed Zhijue Temple by imperial decree, making it one of the earliest Buddhist temples in the province. During the Later Tang period of the Five Dynasties, the renowned Buddhist architect and monk Deqian came to Mingzhao Mountain to establish a monastery and gather disciples. As a result, Mingzhao Temple became a nationally influential Buddhist site at the time.

Mingzhao Temple is located at the foot of Mingzhao Mountain in Shangchen Village, northeast of Wuyi County, 12 kilometers from the county town and 1 kilometer from the Xitianfan exit of the Jinhua–Lishui–Wenzhou Expressway. Surrounded by mountains, the temple enjoys beautiful peaks and scenic landscapes. With a history of over 1,600 years, Mingzhao Temple predates Hangzhou’s Lingyin Temple by more than 500 years. After Ruan Fu’s death, he was buried next to the temple. To commemorate him, later generations built the Ruan Gong Ancestral Hall, Golden Mink Pavilion, and Clogged-Clog Pavilion both inside and outside the temple. During the Song Dynasty, the Play-Beads Pavilion was constructed on Play-Beads Mountain opposite the temple. In the 20th year of Emperor Qianlong’s reign (1757), the temple was bestowed the name “Zhijue Temple” by imperial order, but it is commonly called “Mingzhao Temple” by locals due to its location on Mingzhao Mountain. Among the structures mentioned, those still standing today include the Main Hall, Zhulü Lecture Hall, Donglai Dayu Ancestral Hall, and Chuanxin Pavilion.

The Zhulü Lecture Hall was where renowned Confucian scholars of the Southern Song Dynasty, such as Zhu Xi and Lü Zuqian, gave lectures. Originally part of the Lize Academy, it was later renamed “Zhulü Lecture Hall” in honor of these two great masters. Lü Zuqian came from a family of prime ministers; his ancestors were from Donglai in Shandong, and his grandfather relocated to Jinhua to escape turmoil. Lü Zuqian passed the imperial examination at the age of 27 and rose to the position of Direct Secretariat Compilation Official and National History Compiler. He admired the Mingzhao Temple built by Ruan Fu and was also drawn to the scenery of Mingzhao Mountain, so he moved his ancestral tomb to Mingzhao Mountain. He guarded his parents’ tombs twice and, together with Zhu Xi, Chen Liang, Ye Shi, and other scholars, lectured at the Mingzhao Temple hall. For a time, scholars gathered from all over the country, making Mingzhao Temple one of the nation’s most prestigious centers of higher learning, and the talented individuals it produced were historically referred to as the “Mingzhao Scholars.” Historical accounts have spoken very highly of the “Mingzhao Culture.”

After Lü Zuqian’s death, he was buried 200 meters directly in front of the right side of Mingzhao Temple. His grave is built with stone slabs and features three levels of worship terraces, with the lowest being a semi-circular terrace with a diameter of 20 meters. This burial site is considered a feng shui treasure, fronted by green waters and flanked by Lion Mountain and Elephant Mountain as gates, with Book Stand Mountain and Screen Mountain further ahead. On this Mingzhao Mountain, in addition to the five large Lü family tombs mentioned earlier, there are also many ancient tombs belonging to Lü Zuqian’s wife, his subsequent wife, and other members of the Lü family, totaling more than 30, forming the famous Lü Family Ancient Tomb Cluster.

Today, Mingzhao Temple—including the Zhulü Lecture Hall, Donglai Dayu Ancestral Hall, and Ruan Gong Ancestral Hall—as well as the tomb clusters of Lü Zuqian and his relatives, and historic structures such as the Chuanxin Pavilion, have collectively been designated as a provincial-level cultural heritage protection unit.