Hangzhou Xiangji Temple

Hangzhou Xiangji Temple

Xiangji Temple in Hangzhou is a cultural relic protection unit of Zhejiang Province.

Located on Xiangji Temple Lane in Hushu, Hangzhou, Xiangji Temple was first built in the third year of the Taiping Xingguo era of the Song Dynasty (978 AD) and boasts a history of over a thousand years. Originally named Xingfu Temple, it was renamed Xiangji Temple by Emperor Zhenzong of the Song Dynasty during the Dazhong Xiangfu era, and has retained that name ever since. As a well-known temple in the Hushu district of Hangzhou, it once served as a hub for pilgrims traveling to the Lingyin and Tianzhu temples, and is celebrated as the “No. 1 Incense of the Canal.” Every day, over a thousand boats traveled along the canal, making transport bustling. At night, the lights shone brightly, and the temple bustled with activity, contributing to the commercial and tourism prosperity of both the Hushu area and the entire city of Hangzhou. The temple also played an active role in spreading the culture of Chan Buddhism.

The temple originally had two pagodas, constructed in the 52nd year of the Kangxi reign during the Qing Dynasty (1713 AD). According to the Hu Shu Zhi Lue (Brief Chronicles of Hushu), monk Xiangwen resided at Xiangji Temple during the Kangxi period, where he expanded the temple grounds and built the Pilu Pavilion. He also constructed two stone pagodas in front of the temple. Only one pagoda remains today. This octagonal, nine-story pagoda features a Sumeru pedestal carved from white stone, imitating wooden pavilion structures with Song-style bracket sets. The third story bears a plaque on its eastern face inscribed with the characters “Ci Yun” (Merciful Clouds), while the southern gate is half-open. On the fifth level, one door is open, with a figure appearing to emerge from within. The pagoda's architectural techniques and relief carvings are representative works of the Qing Dynasty. In 1963, the pagoda was designated as a municipal-level cultural relic protection unit by the Hangzhou Municipal People’s Government, and in 1997, it was listed as a key provincial cultural relic protection unit of Zhejiang.

In its early stages, although the temple used the reign title of the Northern Song Dynasty, real power did not fundamentally change—Qian Chu remained the actual ruler. Qian Chu was a lifelong devotee of Buddhism and built numerous temples and pagodas in Hangzhou, so the temple retained a Wuyue architectural style in its early days. Later, during the late Yuan Dynasty, amid political darkness, warfare, and suffering among the people, Xiangji Temple, like many others, suffered devastating destruction. By the early Ming Dynasty, founding emperor Zhu Yuanzhang, who had monastic experience and while supporting Buddhism also carried out large-scale restructuring and consolidation of Buddhist institutions, led to extensive rebuilding and expansion of Xiangji Temple and surrounding temples. In the 24th year of the Hongwu reign (1391 AD), Xiangji Temple had grown into a major monastery within the Buddhist community. During the Kangxi era of the Qing Dynasty, the construction of the Pilu Pavilion and the twin pagodas brought Xiangji Temple’s development to its peak.

Since the reform and opening-up period, with the deepening of the Party’s policy on religious freedom, the continuous development of Hangzhou’s social, economic, and cultural sectors, and the growing spiritual and cultural needs of its residents, the reconstruction of Xiangji Temple was placed on the agenda of the municipal party and government leaders. The reconstruction project of the new Xiangji Temple officially commenced in early 2009. Aiming to build a “21st-century urban new temple,” the reconstruction adopted a historical positioning based on the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms’ Wuyue style as the foundation, and the Ming and Qing styles as the standard. The architectural style embodies a blend of tradition and modernity, striving to revive the prosperity of the “No. 1 Incense of the Hangzhou Canal and the vibrant marketplace charm of Hushu.”

In 2009, Xiangji Temple was successfully rebuilt and became the only temple in China primarily dedicated to the worship of the Mahāsena Bodhisattva (also known as the Kitchen God or Jainini Raja Bodhisattva). The newly built temple restored the demolished Eastern Pagoda and renovated the original Western Pagoda, preserving the original appearance of the twin pagodas. Upon entering through the temple’s archway, visitors will successively pass the Hall of Heavenly Kings, the Mahāsena Bodhisattva Hall, the Mahavira Hall, and the Scripture Depository. Flanking the temple are also the Guanyin Hall, Manjusri Hall, Samantabhadra Hall, as well as the Bell and Drum Towers, totaling 34 statues of various deities.

The new Xiangji Temple arranges its central axis according to the “Seven-Hall Monastery Layout,” featuring the Hall of Heavenly Kings, the Mahavira Hall, and the Scripture Depository. Between the Hall of Heavenly Kings and the Mahavira Hall is the uniquely characteristic Mahāsena Bodhisattva Hall of the temple, a feature unparalleled throughout China. Along the sides of the central axis, following the layout of the “Four Sacred Mountains,” the Samantabhadra Hall, Guanyin Hall, Manjusri Hall, and Kṣitigarbha Hall are arranged before and after the Mahavira Hall. The new Xiangji Temple also features two rows of buildings on either side of the main complex, representing a bold attempt at an asymmetrical layout.

Hushu Subdistrict: Hushu Subdistrict is located in the central-southern part of Gongshu District, Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province. To the east, it borders Shangtang Road, Hongjian River, and Dezheng Lane, adjacent to Shangtang Subdistrict and Daguan Subdistrict; to the west, it lies along Moganshan Road and Hemu Road, facing Xiahe Subdistrict and Xixi Subdistrict of West Lake District across the roads; to the south, it is bounded by Wen Yi Road and Dezheng Road, bordering Mishi Lane Subdistrict; and to the north, it reaches Jiajialong and Daguan Road, connecting with Xiahe Subdistrict. The subdistrict covers a total area of 2.729 square kilometers with an irregular shape and governs seven communities: Zhuer Tan, Maiyuqiao, Shuangdangnong, Cangji, Xiawan Lane, Renhe Warehouse, and Changle Yuan. It has a total of 12,701 resident households and a permanent… More detailed information on Hushu Subdistrict++