Yuquan Temple in Jiande

Yuquan Temple in Jiande

Yuquan Temple in Jiande is a cultural tourism attraction.

Yuquan Temple (commonly known as Shifo Ao), located on the southern foothills of Wulong Mountain in Meicheng Town, gets its name from a spring nearby that flows year-round, regardless of season. The ancient temple is nestled within a pine forest, offering a serene environment. Standing at the temple gate and looking south, one can see undulating mountain ranges resembling the petals of a blooming lotus, with two pagodas—one to the north and one to the south—towering in the middle like elegantly upright lotus pods. Inside the temple stands a peculiar rock, known as the “Breath-Resting Stone.” During the Zhenyuan era (circa 749 AD) of Emperor Dezong of the Tang Dynasty, the fifth patriarch of the Pure Land sect, Master Shao Kang, established a Buddhist practice site here and carved a rock known as the “Breath-Resting Stone” into a stone statue of Amitabha Buddha. It is said that this stone did not originate from Wulong Mountain, as its color differs from the surrounding rocks. Devotees often lean or press against the stone after praying, believing it can ward off illness and disaster. The “Breath-Resting Stone” is considered the temple’s most treasured relic. Thanks to Master Shao Kang’s tireless efforts in promoting Pure Land Buddhism, the teachings quickly spread, giving rise to many eminent monks, and the influence continues both in China and abroad to this day. The Pure Land sect was transmitted from Luoyang southward into Zhejiang, and then spread to Japan, exerting significant influence across the world.

Yuquan Temple, one of the most prominent temples in Jiande and even western Zhejiang, was originally called the Pure Land Practice Site of Master Shandao. It once housed over 200 rooms, as well as structures such as Yuquan Pavilion, Xingle Hall, and Qushui Pavilion. Over the dynasties, it was destroyed and rebuilt several times. By 1942, the main hall was bombed and destroyed by Japanese invaders. During the Cultural Revolution, the remaining structures were completely demolished, leaving only the Amitabha Buddha sculpture carved from the “Breath-Resting Stone.”

In January 1992, reconstruction of Yuquan Temple was approved by the Hangzhou Municipal People’s Government. Over the course of three years, structures such as the mountain gate, liberation pond, Golden Bridge, Heavenly King Hall, Amitabha Hall, and Mahavira Hall were completed. After 2000, additional buildings including the Guanyin Pavilion, chanting hall, bell tower, comprehensive building, and the pagoda of Master Shao Kang were also built. Yuquan Temple serves not only as a place for Buddhist activities but also as a tourist attraction. In May 1999, it was designated as a municipal cultural relics protection unit.