Rui'an Changning Temple

Rui'an Changning Temple

Rui'an Changning Temple is a cultural tourism attraction.

The ancient Changning Chan Temple from the Tang Dynasty is located in Sidian Village, Xianjiang Town, Rui'an, Zhejiang. It was first built in the eighth year of the Xiantong era (867 AD) during the Tang Dynasty, originally consisting of nine courtyards and two side wings. During the Ji Xi reign of Emperor Lizong in the Southern Song Dynasty, the monks led a corrupt life, straying from the Buddhist path, and colluded with remnants of the anti-imperial Fang La rebels who had taken refuge at Shanhuangzhai. The local Rui'an county government was outraged. After seeking approval from higher authorities, they dispatched a large contingent of troops who swiftly captured “Changning Temple” and set the entire temple complex on fire. In the end, only the Mahavira Hall and about ten side rooms remained. In the eleventh year of the Guangxu reign during the Qing Dynasty (1885), Master Xiaorou rebuilt the temple, ushering in a period of great prosperity. However, during the Cultural Revolution, the temple was completely demolished, leaving only the last remaining Mahavira Hall, which was eventually abandoned with no monks left in residence. In 2003, due to the expansion of Rui'an Agricultural Technical School, even the final Mahavira Hall was torn down. Currently, a newly built Vajra Hall stands on the mountainside to the left of the original temple site.