Xiangshan East Temple

Xiangshan East Temple

Xiangshan East Temple is a cultural heritage site protected by Xiangshan County.

The East Temple in Dancheng was first built in the second year of the Jianlong era in the early Song Dynasty (961 AD), originally named Dongchan Monastery. In the second year of the Hanping era of the Song Dynasty, it was renamed “Baofan Lecture Temple,” and commonly referred to as the East Temple by locals. It is located on the western side of Dongtang Mountain at the eastern foot of Xiangbi Mountain, slightly northeast of the city. The temple has been destroyed and rebuilt several times. The existing mountain gate, Vajra Hall, main hall, and east and west side halls were reconstructed in the 18th year of the Jiaqing reign of the Qing Dynasty, and renovated again in the 6th year of the Republic of China. According to the Republican-era Xiangshan County Annals, the temple was one of the teaching monasteries listed in the Zhejiang General Annals. It stands symmetrically with the West Temple (Denci Chan Temple), known as the “Twin Eyes” of Xiangbi Mountain.