Ancient Architectural Complex of Sikong Mountain

Ancient Architectural Complex of Sikong Mountain

The ancient architectural complex of Sikong Mountain is a cultural relic protection unit of Anhui Province.

The ancient architectural complex of Sikong Mountain includes a memorial archway, the Second Patriarch Chan Temple, stone carvings, and more. The memorial archway was originally built during the Tang Dynasty, later destroyed, and rebuilt in the first year of the Tianqi era of the Ming Dynasty (1621). It faces south, with a wooden structure of four pillars, three bays, and five stories, constructed from granite. Only the second floor remains, spanning 9 meters in width, standing 6.5 meters in ruined height, and 2.8 meters in depth. The beams and brackets feature relief carvings, with all bracket arms supported by square, chamfered stone pillars measuring 50 cm on each side, serving as the main vertical supports. The upper ends of the pillars are carved with brocade patterns, and the lower sections are fitted with vase-shaped elements. The top section of the archway was destroyed during the Cultural Revolution but was collected by monks from the temple and stored together in front of the Mahavira Hall. Many relics of the Second Patriarch’s Buddhist teachings still remain on Sikong Mountain, including the cave temple where he meditated — the Second Patriarch Chan Temple. There is also the Robe-Transmitting Platform, dating back to the third year of the Tianbao era of the Northern Qi Dynasty (572 AD), where the robe and bowl were passed to the Third Patriarch of Chan Buddhism, Sengcan, in a cave behind the Buddha cave. Additionally, there is the Third Patriarch Cave, where the Third Patriarch meditated facing the wall. These sites bear witness to the historical presence of the Second Patriarch of Chan Buddhism, Huikai, who resided on Sikong Mountain, and serve as physical evidence of Sikong Mountain being revered as the First Mountain of Chinese Chan Buddhism. Over 100 stone carvings remain on the site, with three well-preserved examples from the Ming Dynasty: the Chaoyang Rock Carving, the Taibai Immortal Trace Carving, and the Summit Rock Carving.

Protection boundary: A 20-meter area surrounding the exterior of each individual ancient structure at Sikong Mountain.

Construction control zone: A 20-meter buffer zone extending beyond the protection boundary.

Dianqian Town: Located at the junction of Yuexi, Taihu, and Yingshan counties across Anhui and Hubei provinces, Dianqian Town is home to Sikong Mountain — renowned as the First Mountain of Chinese Buddhist Chan Buddhism and a national A-level scenic tourist attraction. Dianqian Town is a pilot township for comprehensive institutional reform in Anqing City, as well as one of Anhui Province's 63 key towns and a model town in the province’s “Hundred Towns, Thousand Villages” new rural construction demonstration program. The town administers 11 administrative villages, 35 directly affiliated units, and 8 central units, covering a total area of 183 square kilometers, including 200,000 mu of mountainous land and 851 hectares of arable land. By the end of 2005, the town had a total population of 24,391... More details about Dianqian Town ++

Further reading:

· Fifth Batch of Municipal-Level Cultural Relic Protection Units in Anqing City