Tonglu Hualin Temple

Tonglu Hualin Temple

Tonglu Hualin Temple is a cultural tourism attraction.

Hualin Temple is located at the foot of Nanxiangquan Mountain in Fengchuan Town, Tonglu County, and is also known as "Swallow's Nest." Due to its auspicious feng shui location, it is also referred to locally as the "Lucky Land for Generations of Lords." There are two accounts of the temple’s origin. One claims that it was established during the Wu-Yue Kingdom of the Five Dynasties (907–978), making it over a thousand years old. The other suggests an even earlier founding, with the *Tonglu County Annals* recording that Hualin Temple was built during the Tang Dynasty. However, it is certain that either way, the temple has a history of over a thousand years. Unfortunately, the earliest Hualin Temple was destroyed by fire during the late Yuan Dynasty. It was later rebuilt during the Hongwu and Jingtai eras of the Ming Dynasty and the Guangxu era of the Qing Dynasty. By the early days of the People’s Republic of China, the historic Hualin Temple still had structures such as the Heavenly King Hall, Mahavira Hall, Upper Hall, Lower Hall, Dou Pavilion, and Xiangquan Pavilion, but these were gradually demolished afterward.

The history of Hualin Temple was revived in 1997. That year, Master Mowu, with the support of many Buddhist devotees, rebuilt the temple. Hualin Temple enjoys an excellent geographical location. In his essay *Record of Tiger-Facing Hill*, the Ming Dynasty scholar Liu Ji described the temple’s setting as follows: “Looking south, three peaks pierce the sky, standing like spears behind; the fragrant springs of Hualin are within arm’s reach. To the east, two streams meander, with murmuring brooks; Lion Mountain roars, Pavilion Mountain stands firm, wildflowers and grasses dot the landscape. To the north, nearby are the pine forests of Plum Mountain, with its misty villages, clouded trees, and verdant pines and bamboos forming a natural painting. Further across the river, layered ridges and ranges rise in billowing clouds and rosy hues, filling one’s heart with awe. To the west, there are flat fields and green plains stretching as far as the eye can see, with Iron Ridge, Horse Saddle, and Chicken Cage mountains rising and falling in dramatic contours, resembling city walls.” Later scholars deduced from this text that Liu Ji wrote it while on Dashan Mountain in front of Hualin Temple. Indeed, Hualin Temple sits against Xiangquan Mountain, with Lion Mountain to its right, shaded by tall bamboo, and Elephant Mountain to its left, covered by dense woods. The two mountains complement each other, embodying the saying “lion and elephant guardianship.”

Hualin Temple is situated in Huigang Village, Fengchuan Town. Legend has it that due to its exceptional feng shui, Sun Quan’s grandmother believed in its power and chose to be buried here. However, Sun Quan’s father, Sun Jian, later moved his mother’s grave to Tianzishan. Hence the saying, “Gained an emperor in Sun Quan’s reign, lost a lineage of lords for the Sun family.” The descendants of the Sun family deeply regretted this and renamed the place “Huigang” (Regret Hill), which later evolved into Huigang (Fluttering Hill). Ironically, though Sun Quan’s grandmother wasn’t buried in Huigang, the thousand-year-old Hualin Temple was built here and has endured to this day.

Locally, there is a legend that the monk-painter Guanxiu once painted the 18 Arhats inside Hualin Temple. This is also recorded in past editions of the *Tonglu County Annals*: “The temple once housed 18 ink paintings of arhats, with peculiar and ancient appearances, renowned as immortal brushwork.” It is said that a man who bragged about his painting skills visited the temple. The monks hosted him, offering food and drink, and asked him to paint the arhats. After a few days, a skeptical monk peeked and saw the painter using a basin of water to reflect his work, having completed only up to the 16th arhat’s torso. Realizing something was off, he stopped, washed his hands, and left without saying goodbye, leaving behind 16 and a half arhat paintings. The painter must have been an arhat from the divine realm or someone who had already attained arhat status, unwilling to be disturbed by worldly affairs, hence choosing to vanish on his own. A year later, another monk arrived with exquisite brushwork, claiming to be Guanxiu himself, and said he could finish the paintings. In no time, the complete set of 18 arhats was completed. Sadly, the paintings did not bring good fortune—theft, seizure by the powerful, and eventually fire left nothing but ashes. This sad tale leaves one lamenting not just the loss, but also the impermanence of life. Later research revealed that Guanxiu, also known as Master Chan Yue or Monk Dedede, was a famous painter-monk of the late Tang and Five Dynasties period. His arhat paintings mirrored his poetry—bold and unrestrained, like “traveling through mountains and rivers to arrive,” or “a hall full of flowers intoxicating guests, a sword’s frost chilling fourteen states.” His works carried a free-spirited and vigorous spirit, with ancient and resolute imagery. The fact that a renowned artist-monk like Guanxiu graced Hualin Temple speaks volumes about its former flourishing spiritual influence.

The above stories are all legends. In truth, Hualin Temple’s rise to fame is closely tied to one individual—Liu Ji, the eminent statesman of the early Ming Dynasty, also widely known as Liu Bowen, the legendary figure with near-supernatural wisdom. During the late Yuan Dynasty, Liu Ji stayed in Tonglu for several years, setting up a school at Hualin Temple in Huigang. He associated with Li Jinshan, Li Ningshi, and Xu Fang, and wrote works such as *Record of Tiger-Facing Hill*. Liu Ji’s academy was located in Siwan, north of Hualin Temple. It is said that Liu Bowen also inscribed the temple plaque for Hualin Temple, originally built in the Tang Dynasty. The temple was destroyed during the wars at the end of the Yuan Dynasty. It was rebuilt during the Hongwu era. When the Mahavira Hall was completed, the abbot was troubled over whom to ask for the plaque inscription. A young local monk suggested, “Why not invite the prominent official Liu Ji? My father said he used to teach here long ago.” “That’s right!” The abbot was struck with the idea and immediately sent someone to Nanjing to request an inscription from Liu Ji. Moved by their sincerity, Liu Ji agreed. The plaque he wrote was hung in the Mahavira Hall and regarded as the temple’s sacred treasure by generations of monks. Tragically, before the Cultural Revolution, the temple was forcibly demolished under the campaign to eliminate the “Four Olds.” During the dismantling process, a tailor from Fengchuan reportedly stole the plaque, scraped off the inscriptions, and used it as a cutting board. After the Cultural Revolution, the tailor returned it to the temple. Unfortunately, no matter how hard he tried, the inscriptions could not be restored. This remains a great loss.

In 1997, Master Mowu traveled through Tonglu, and when he visited the site of the old Hualin Temple on Xiangquan Mountain in Fengchuan, he was struck by the unique terrain and felt inspired. He made a grand vow to rebuild the temple. After seven years of construction, the Mahavira Hall of Hualin Temple was consecrated in 2004, and various other structures were gradually completed. The new Hualin Temple has become a well-known local religious site, serving as a center for Buddhist worship and the promotion of traditional Buddhist culture. Especially during the Jiangnan festive seasons, the temple sees a continuous stream of pilgrims.

Scenic Area Address: Hualin Road, Fengchuan Town, Tonglu County, Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province

Transportation: Take a bus from Tonglu County Passenger Transport Station to Fengchuan Town, then walk south along Hualin Road to reach the temple.