Zenjoy Temple

Zenjoy Temple

Zenjoy Temple is a cultural tourism attraction.

Zenjoy Temple is located in Chemu'ao at the southern foot of Chanyu Mountain, more than ten li southwest of the Hemudu Site, covering an area of over 2,000 square meters. Built during the Five Dynasties period, it was bestowed the name "Zenjoy Temple" by imperial decree in the first year of the Tianfu era (936) of the Later Jin Dynasty.

Zenjoy Temple has been destroyed and rebuilt three times, with the last renovation taking place in the third year of the Guangxu reign during the Qing Dynasty (1877). The existing grand and imposing main hall is 20.1 meters wide, divided into five bays, and 13.9 meters deep. The beams of the central and side bays are supported by five-beam structures with single and double steps in the front and back. The front features a porch, with exquisitely carved figures and story patterns on the rafter beams, spandrels, and cantilevered beam heads. Inside the hall, there is a wooden seated statue of the Buddha, and the stone slabs on the floor where worshippers kneel in front of the incense table are carved with intricate designs of lotus flowers, peonies, cranes, and phoenixes, showcasing significant artistic value. Hence, it is a municipal-level cultural heritage site in Yuyao.

About two li from the temple lies Longtan, also known as Zhaikeng Longtan or Fawu Tan, which means the pond water evaporates to create a misty, dreamlike scene resembling a fairyland. The pond water flows down the mountain and cascades from the wild ridge, forming a spectacular waterfall. According to the "Chronicles of Zenjoy Temple," in ancient times, Longtan was divided into three springs: the left spring, over ten feet deep, provided water for the monks to cook and was thus named Xiangji Spring (Fragrant Kitchen Spring); the right spring, less than a few feet deep, supplied water for brewing tea and was called Zhuming Spring (Tea Boiling Spring). There was also a spring that seeped out from a crack in the rocks, dripping continuously year-round. The spring’s outlet often shifted unpredictably between the left and right, making it elusive. If a channel were dug to divert the water, it would pool like a lioness's milk—rare and precious—thus it was named Diruspring (Dripping Milk Spring).

Hemudu Town: Located along the eastern coast of eastern Zhejiang and the eastern part of Yuyao City, Hemudu Town is home to the world-renowned Hemudu Site. The town covers a total area of 65 square kilometers with a population of 23,000. It governs nine administrative villages and three neighborhood committees, and boasts convenient land and water transportation. It is 35 kilometers from Ningbo Airport and Beilun Port, with the Shanghai-Hangzhou-Ningbo Expressway and the Hangzhou-Ningbo Canal both passing through the area. The region is rich in tourism resources, including the Hemudu Site Museum inscribed by the former General Secretary and President of China, and the 1,200-year-old Lushan Chan Temple, among other captivating scenic spots. Since the reform and opening up, the town’s economy and…… More details about Hemudu Town++