Jiyun Taoist Temple

Jiyun Taoist Temple

Jiyun Taoist Temple was first built in 889 (during the Tang Dynasty’s Longji era), granted the name “Jinghui Temple” in the sixth year of the Song Dynasty’s Xiangfu era, and renamed “Jiyun Guan” during the Song Xuan era. It was incorporated into Baihe Temple during the Hongwu era of the Ming Dynasty. In 1417 (the 15th year of the Ming Yongle era), “Jinghui Temple” was rebuilt. According to the *Bai Shi Mountain Annals*: “At its peak, it featured soaring eaves and grand portals, resplendent in gold and vermilion, with dozens of resident monks. The sounds of bells and sutras continued day and night, earning it the title of a monastic forest.” In August 1920 (the 20th year of the Republic of China) and September 1922 (the 11th year), it collapsed twice due to typhoons. In 1931 (the 20th year of the Republic of China), wandering Taoist priest Ye Mingda and devotee Xin Bao raised funds to rebuild it, and it has stood to this day. The temple is located at the southern foot of Hengshan Mountain, north of Dongjia Village, covering an area of 2,064 square meters, and is divided into front and rear sections. The rear hall houses a pair of large stone pillars inscribed with a couplet written and calligraphed by local Confucian scholar Zhao Shungeng: “Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism—three distinct paths with one shared purpose; eastern and western sects—two branches stemming from a common source.” There is a well in the courtyard, 8.2 meters deep. In front of the temple stand a pair of stone pillars, along with two large and two small camphor trees, with the trunks of the large camphor trees measuring 3.30 meters and 3.10 meters in diameter, respectively. The abbot is Feng Chengfang, who also serves as the honorary president of the Yueqing Taoist Association.