Hangzhou Fuxing Temple

Hangzhou Fuxing Temple

Fuxing Temple is located atop Jade Emperor Hill between West Lake and the Qiantang River in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province. Originally named Jade Emperor Palace, it boasts a long history and is one of the renowned Taoist temples in southern China. According to Records of Temples on Jade Emperor Hill by the Qing dynasty scholar Zhuo Bingsen, it is said that Fuxing Temple was first built during the Kaiyuan era (713–741) of the Tang dynasty, initially known as Jade Dragon Taoist Monastery, and has a history of over 1,300 years. According to the text, during the reign of Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang dynasty, an elderly flower picker encountered a Taoist priest on the mountain. When asked about his purpose, the priest replied, “I am here to pay homage to the Three Pure Ones,” before ascending into the sky. Word of this miraculous event spread quickly, and the flower picker went on to establish Jade Dragon Taoist Monastery on the mountain. The monastery included the Great Luminous Treasure Hall, dedicated to the Three Pure Ones, the Three Treasures, and the Heavenly Masters of the Three Heavens. This shows that the Jade Dragon Taoist Monastery was indeed established during the Tang dynasty. Legend also has it that the Tang dynasty Taoist immortal Lü Dongbin once traveled to Jade Dragon Taoist Monastery and composed a poem there: “Adorned with seven treasures, alchemy of five colors / Six senses and four directions transcending the dust / The taste within is known to the immortals / Revealed with a smile to those of destined fate.”

Since then, Taoists from every dynasty have come here—some in search of scriptures. According to Records of Jade Emperor Hill in Hangzhou, it is said that the Five Dynasties Taoist Liu Haichan also came here and meditated facing a wall for nine years, leaving behind four verses: “Having realized the vacuum of the endless sky / Mother and I are one, and I am Mother / The formless master of all things / Mysterious truths flow endlessly.”

The name Fuxing Taoist Monastery began to be used around the mid-Ming dynasty. In the 13th year of the Zhengde era (1518), the Taoist priest Luo Puren practiced here for 13 years and attained profound enlightenment beyond the ordinary. Emperor Zhengde of the Ming officially bestowed upon him the title “Master of Non-Action.” He expanded Jade Dragon Taoist Monastery and officially renamed it “Fuxing Taoist Monastery,” commonly known as Fuxing Temple. Therefore, Records of Jade Emperor Hill refers to him as the founding patriarch of Fuxing Temple.

Fuxing Temple was once one of the largest Taoist architectural complexes on West Lake, featuring a complete set of palace-style buildings. Arriving at Jade Emperor Hill, where Fuxing Temple is situated, visitors will find Zilai Cave—the gathering place of the Eight Immortals—midway up the mountain. Standing before the cave offers a view of the unique landscape of the Eight Trigrams Field down the hill. Originally a field offered as tribute to the god of agriculture by emperors of the Southern Song dynasty, the Eight Trigrams Field later evolved into an octagonal plot divided into eight sections, each planted with different crops that change color with the seasons, collectively forming an image of the Eight Trigrams. It is considered a major scenic highlight when visiting Jade Emperor Hill. The hill also preserves historical sites such as the Heavenly Pond and the White Jade Toad Well.