Dongshan Temple

Dongshan Temple

Dongshan Temple is a cultural heritage site protected by Cixi City.

Dongshan Temple is located in Renjiaxi Village, Zhangqi Town, Cixi City, nestled among the lofty mountains on the southern edge of Lingxu Lake. According to the "Zhenhai County Annals," the temple was first built in the early Kaiping era of the Later Liang Dynasty during the Five Dynasties period. During the Xiangfu era of the Northern Song Dynasty, it was officially granted the name "Secluded Abode Dongshan." In the eighth year of the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty, the monk Juexing oversaw its renovation. Additionally, the "Dongshan Temple Fields and Mountains Stele" from the 27th year of the Guangxu reign (1901) records: "The temple was established during the Chiwu era of the Three Kingdoms period."

The stone pagoda of Dongshan Temple is situated on a hill north of the temple, featuring a pavilion-style hexagonal wooden imitation structure. The pagoda originally had a base and seven tiers, but today only five tiers remain, with a current height of 4 meters. The body of the pagoda is constructed by layering carved stone blocks that gradually taper upward. Each side features shallow niches housing Buddha or bodhisattva statues—some depicted with bare chests and serene expressions, others with fierce eyes and majestic bearing, some holding ritual implements, others stepping on lotus flowers, or seated cross-legged on lotus pedestals, displaying a variety of expressions that reflect the profound Buddhist cultural heritage. Each tier of the pagoda is adorned with a compressed eave stone, and the eaves’ tiles and wing corners are finely carved with gentle slopes. The entire structure is simple yet elegant, with well-proportioned overhanging eaves, fully showcasing the typical artistic characteristics and historical style of Song Dynasty stone pagodas.

Baiyun Cave spans across a mountain hollow and is a stone structure with an arched roof, located just a short distance from the Song Dynasty stone pagoda. This architectural feature serves both as a mountain gate and harmonizes with the feng shui of the mountain, demonstrating ingenious design. The cave entrance is 2.2 meters wide, 2.4 meters high, and 2.9 meters deep. The arched ceiling bears the inscription "Baiyun Cave" (White Cloud Cave), with clear and legible characters. According to the "Zhenhai County Annals," the local scholar Hua Yan once gave lectures here and composed the verse: "White clouds seal the ancient cave, bright moon shines upon the empty mountain." Hua Yan, also known as Jiuyuan, was a native of Shigong Mountain in present-day Cixi. He became a Jinshi (imperial scholar) in the 41st year of the Wanli reign of the Ming Dynasty (1613) and was appointed as an official in the Ministry of Works. He was skilled in cursive script, emulating the brushwork of the Two Wangs (Wang Xizhi and Wang Xianzhi). His contemporary Dong Qichang once remarked: "My calligraphy may surpass Hua Yan’s, but my fame does not." This indicates that Baiyun Cave already existed during the Wanli era of the Ming Dynasty.

Dongshan Temple has a long history and is far from the hustle and bustle of urban life. It was not severely damaged during the Cultural Revolution and was listed by the Cixi County People's Government in 1985 as one of the first temples opened to the public. To protect this valuable Buddhist cultural heritage, in August 1986, the Cixi County People's Government designated the Song Dynasty stone pagoda of Dongshan Temple (including Baiyun Cave) as a third batch cultural heritage site. The temple now covers an area of 6,400 square meters, and a mountain road leading directly to the temple has been completed, making it an important religious site and a renowned tourist destination in Cixi City.