Ciyun Ancient Nunnery

Ciyun Ancient Nunnery

Ciyun Ancient Nunnery is located on the southern peak of Yuepinggang on Moxin Mountain. It was built during the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty (1736–1795) and has a history of over 240 years. In 1983, Tao Fugen, a lay Buddhist from Gaoting, took the lead in raising funds for its renovation. The nunnery consists of the Mahavira Hall, the Three Saints Hall, and the Penglai Garden. Chen Congzhou, a professor at Tongji University in Shanghai, rewrote the nunnery’s plaque and composed the couplet “Tides have sounds that pines listen to; mountains have no end, nor does water.” In March 1985, it was approved by the county government as a religious tourism site and cultural heritage protection unit, and opened to the public.

On the west side of the rear hall stands a marble stele inscribed with a poem titled *Jiang Cheng Zi · A Visit to Penglai Fairy Island in Daishan*, spontaneously written and hand-copied by Zhao Puchu, President of the Buddhist Association of China, during his inspection of Ciyun Nunnery in October 1989. The poem reads: “To know that Buddha’s land spans the three thousand worlds, ascend the fairy mountain, worship the golden sage. The body appears layer upon layer, endlessly manifesting the Huayan realm. The Dharma finger opens the mind, halls rise up—gazing at the vast sea, bluer than sapphire. In the scripture room, an old monk remains serene, again and again in deep contemplation, revealing a compassionate face. Capturing the sounds between tides, yet still without words. But remember, it is good to rest free of worldly ties—use your ears, but observe with your eyes.”

In front of the nunnery gate also stands a marble stele inscribed with a poem written and calligraphed by the renowned calligrapher and cultural historian Jiang Dongshu after his visit to Ciyun Nunnery in May 1990. The poem goes: “Having trekked through countless perilous famous mountains, none compare to the serenity of this one. From the perilous peaks I howl, while the blue waves surge; the precious hall appears as a reflection hanging in a bright mirror. The old monk sleeps not for sixty years, immortal herbs hidden in mist for a thousand autumns. Why are there so few kindred spirits in such a spiritual place? A smile—the affairs of the human world are much the same.”