Jiangfu Temple

Jiangfu Temple

Jiangfu Temple is a cultural tourism attraction.

On the eastern bank of Xianzong River in Xianzong Town, Hanshan County, at the head of Jianghuai Bridge, stands Jiangfu Temple, also known as "Jianggong Temple." On the western bank once stood the now-ruined Sanguan Temple, which inspired the verse: “The tolling bells from both banks startle travelers’ dreams; the winding Huai River keeps Xianzong’s charm in its embrace.” Jiangfu Temple was originally built in the first year of the Yongtai era of the Tang Dynasty (765 AD), expanded during the Longxing period of the Southern Song Dynasty, and underwent several restorations in the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties. The temple enshrines Zhang Xun, a Tang Dynasty general who defended Suiyang. According to the *Liyang Famous Figures Dictionary* and the *Old Book of Tang • Biography of Zhang Xun*, during the An Lushan Rebellion, Zhang Xun, the defender of Suiyang, swore to defend the city to the death. Each time he faced the enemy, he would rally his troops with passionate cries, fighting fiercely until his teeth shattered and blood flowed—his heroic spirit moved heaven and earth. During the rebellion, along with Xu Yuan, the governor of Suiyang (now Shangqiu, Henan), he held the isolated city under siege for months. After the city fell, he died a martyr’s death, joined by thirty-six brave soldiers. Despite being vastly outnumbered, lacking external reinforcements and internal supplies, Zhang Xun led his troops alone to block the enemy’s advance. His efforts were instrumental in boosting the morale of the people resisting the rebellion and in safeguarding the regions of Jianghuai and Jiangxi. His bravery is rarely matched in history.

After the An Lushan Rebellion, peace was restored across the Tang Empire. Zhang Xun was posthumously honored as the Grand Protector of Yangzhou, and his son Zhang Yafu was named General of the Imperial Guards. Temples were established in their honor, where annual commemorations were held. In the Later Tang period, Zhang Xun was titled “Censorate Secretary, Perfected True Third Prince,” and during the Song Dynasty’s Emperor Xiaozong’s reign, he was revered as the “Loyal and Peaceful, Suspended Blessings, Fortune Deity.” In the 12th year of the Yongzheng era of the Qing Dynasty, Zhang Xun was further honored as the “Deity Who Suspends Blessings and Calms the Waves.” Temples dedicated to him have been maintained through the ages, especially in the Jianghuai region. The main gate of the former Jiangfu Temple in Xianzong bore an imperial plaque inscribed with the four grand characters: “Shielding Jianghuai.” According to the *Compendium of Gods from All Religions*, Zhang Xun was a native of Nanyang, Dengzhou, Tang Dynasty, with Lady Liu as his wife and Lady Liu as his concubine. He passed the imperial examination during Emperor Xuanzong’s reign and once served as the governor of Suiyang. Legend has it that Zhang Xun’s ancestral home was within Xianzong territory in Hanshan County, and the 18th day of the fifth lunar month is celebrated as his birthday.

Over time, due to historical upheavals and natural disasters, Jiangfu Temple endured many trials and was once occupied. It wasn’t until the reform and opening-up period that Buddhist activities resumed. After 1993, through the tireless fundraising efforts of Abbot Dingyuan and Falang, along with generous donations from the public and devotees, the temple was rebuilt. It now consists of 20 rooms, laid out in a typical two-courtyard quadrangle style: the front hall is the Heavenly King Hall, followed by the Mahavira Hall at the rear, with the Three Saints Hall and Jianggong Hall (also known as the Sangharama Hall) on the left, and the dining hall on the right. The entire temple complex is situated at the ancient Jianghuai Bridge on the banks of Xianzong River. Today, the historic temple and bridge form a unified, spectacular sight. Jiangfu Temple has become one of the key worship sites for religious followers in northern Hanshan and the Guhe area of Quanjiao.