Fulong Temple

Fulong Temple

Fulong Temple is a cultural tourism attraction.

Fulong Temple was first built in the third year of the Xiantong era of the Tang Dynasty (862 AD). At that time, Fulong Mountain was surrounded by sea. Master Jianzhu noticed that the mountain resembled a coiled dragon, shrouded in clouds and mist, and was not far from the southern mainland and Dapeng Mountain. He saw it as an auspicious feng shui site that could prosper Buddhist teachings. So he moored his boat and climbed up the mountain. With the devotion of a Buddhist disciple, enduring wind and fasting, cutting through brambles, he finally established a magnificent temple at the mountaintop.

This early Chan (Zen) monastery of the Pure Land sect follows the contour of the mountain, advancing step by step. The structure is rigorous, with clear primary and secondary elements, fully reflecting the architectural characteristics of the Tang Dynasty. At its peak, the temple complex comprised over sixty halls, including the Heavenly King Hall, Mahavira Hall, Three Saints Hall, and side halls on the left and right, covering a forested area of more than 700 acres. Unfortunately, this thousand-year-old temple was destroyed by fire during the Japanese invasion in 1941.

Wang Anshi, one of the Eight Great Prose Masters of the Tang and Song Dynasties, visited the temple multiple times. Qi Jiguang, the famous general who fought against Japanese pirates, left a notable poem in front of the temple. Master Hongyi completed his most important calligraphic work, 16 pages of the “Amitabha Sutra,” within the temple. These elements have all become part of Fulong Temple’s fascinating cultural legacy.

Fulong Temple and the lotus pond in front of it are interdependent yet each has its own charm. The lotus pond is a rectangular pool with an area of about 350 square meters, surrounded by rocks, and was built during the Xuantong era of the Qing Dynasty as a liberation pond for live creatures. A “Protect Life Prohibition Stone” stele stands by the pond. The area is surrounded by lush trees and creeping vines.

Strolling in front of Fulong Temple and standing by the lotus pond, one can immerse oneself in the influence of both refined and popular culture, grasp the true essence of the myriad aspects of life, listen to the sounds of nature, gaze upon the past and present, and feel boundless emotion.