Liberation Pond

Liberation Pond

Upon entering the mountain gate of the Great Buddha Temple, the scenery suddenly opens up to reveal two liberation ponds—one large and one small—connected by a long causeway. Ancient trees sway along the banks, their reflections dancing on the water alongside the play of sunlight and clouds. The serene sight of the twin ponds, coupled with the melodious chirping of orioles, creates a truly refreshing atmosphere.

The larger pond covers 11,500 square meters and holds 28,950 cubic meters of water; the smaller one spans 2,800 square meters and holds 8,400 cubic meters. The larger pond leans against a western rock face inscribed with the three characters “放生池” (Liberation Pond), each character measuring 22.5 square meters in size. The powerful calligraphy adds to the scenic charm.

On the rocky wall of Shigu Ping near the pond are three cliff inscriptions: “南无阿弥陀佛” (Namo Amitabha Buddha), “大势至菩萨” (Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva), and “观自在菩萨” (Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva)—the sacred names of the Three Saints of the West. In Buddhist halls, statues of these three deities are enshrined together in what’s called the Three Saints Hall. This open-air grouping of divine names on Shigu Ping, unsheltered and bathed in sunlight, commands the same reverence as Buddha statues, thus earning the nickname “Open-Air Grand Hall.”

Background: The Liberation Pond was originally known as JiAXiTang (Sandwiched Stream Pond), formed by two low-lying water-collecting areas. Spring water from YuTang Wan (Bath House Bay) and LuoHan Wan (Arhat Bay) in the eastern part of ShiCheng Valley gathered into a small pond along the mountainside near the Great Buddha’s seat, while springs from HuaRen Wan (Transformed People Bay) and ShiMenKan (Stone Threshold) in the southern part of the valley formed the larger pond.

During the Guangxu reign of the late Qing Dynasty (1875–1908), Venerable BaoGuang dredged JiAXiTang, built protective embankments, and converted it into a Liberation Pond—a religious facility of the temple dedicated to lay Buddhists releasing fish and shrimp as an act of merit and compassion.

Buddhism advocates the protection of all living beings under the principle of “equality of all sentient beings.” The earliest proponent of the liberation practice, which later became an established tradition, was Master ZhiZhe (Master Wisdom), and the first liberation pond was built in front of his stupa.

In 1932 (the 21st year of the Republic of China), the Liberation Pond had become silted and shallow, and was also plagued by poachers. Led by lay devotee Ma QiCi, funds were raised for its restoration. After 1979, with the gradual implementation of religious policies, the pond underwent further dredging, bank reinforcement, and fish stocking.