Huacheng Temple on Jiuhua Mountain

Huacheng Temple on Jiuhua Mountain

Huacheng Temple on Jiuhua Mountain is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Built on a high mountain basin, Huacheng Temple faces Furong Peak to the south, leans against Baiyun Mountain to the north, neighbors Dongya Cliff to the east, and connects with Shenguang Ridge to the west. Surrounded on all sides like a city, it was poetically described by ancient people as “inner and outer peaks encircle a lotus of jade.”

When the sun sets in the west, clouds return to the mountains, the great bell tolls, and its deep resonance gently echoes — this is one of the Ten Scenic Spots of Jiuhua Mountain, known as the “Evening Bell of Huacheng.” The temple once had a large bell weighing over ten thousand jin (approximately 5 metric tons), but it was destroyed in war. The existing grand bell weighs about two thousand jin (approximately 1 metric ton) and stands over ten feet tall. This bell is exquisitely cast, exceptionally large, and produces a mellow, resonant tone. A gentle tap produces a crisp, delicate sound, while striking it with a mallet creates a deep, sonorous boom that slowly reverberates through the valley, growing more distant. Especially during quiet nights, the bell’s chime becomes even more serene, transporting listeners as if into a heavenly Buddhist realm, transcending the mundane world. Therefore, all pilgrims who come to offer incense make sure to listen to the Evening Bell of Huacheng, experiencing the sacred tones of the ancient bell with its poetic verse: “To deliver all beings with boundless compassion, the city opens its gates east and west. At dusk, incense offerings thrive in karmic connection, as the bell sends Buddhist sounds soaring through space,” helping to dispel worldly troubles.

Huacheng Temple is the founding temple and principal monastery of Jiuhua Mountain. Legend has it that in the fifth year of the Long’an era of the Jin Dynasty (401 AD), the Indian monk Cuphada built a hut here as a hermitage. During the Kaiyuan era of the Tang Dynasty, the monk Tan resided here, and the temple was named “Huacheng.” In the second year of the Jianzhong era (781 AD), the Chizhou regional governor Zhang Yan petitioned the imperial court to relocate the former “Huacheng” plaque to this temple. In the tenth year of the Zhenyuan era (794 AD), after the 99-year-old Kim Qiaojue passed away, the monastics regarded him as the incarnation of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, and Huacheng Temple was thus established as a Ksitigarbha sacred site. In the late Southern Song Dynasty, the abbot Guangzong, later known as “Guanchuan Chan Master,” presided here. In the early years of the Yuan Dynasty’s Zhizhi era (1321 AD), the abbot Zhenguan, later known as “Wuxiang Chan Master,” served here. In the 24th year of the Ming Dynasty’s Hongwu era (1391 AD), abbots Zonglin and Fajian expanded the temple into a formal monastery. In the 10th year of the Xuande era (1435 AD), Master Futing (also known as Yunyan), who had returned to Jiuhua Mountain from Nanjing’s Linggu Temple due to old age, took over as abbot of Huacheng Temple. He rebuilt the Mahavira Hall as well as the Scripture Storage Hall, Patriarch Hall, Vajra Hall, Heavenly King Hall, and Sangharama Hall, expanding the East Wing dormitories. During the Zhengtong era, abbot Daotai was succeeded by Dugang, Fayan, and Fanguang, who expanded the Buddha Pavilion, Abbot’s Quarters, corridors, Ksitigarbha Hall, and stone steps, forming the West Wing dormitories. In the sixth year of the Longqing era (1569 AD), the Huizhou merchant Huang Longding donated funds for renovation. In the 31st year of the Wanli era (1603 AD), abbot Liangyuan traveled to the capital and was bestowed imperial purple robes by the court. In the 20th year of the Kangxi era (1681 AD), the Chizhou prefect Yu Chenglong renovated the temple and added the “Juhua Tower,” along with the East and West Wings (also called the Two Palaces) and seventy-two dormitories. As a result, Huacheng Temple became the “Crown of All Temples on Jiuhua Mountain” and the principal monastery. From the 42nd to the 44th year of the Kangxi era (1703–1705 AD), imperial edicts were issued three times to send eunuchs to Jiuhua Mountain for incense offerings, bestowing silver and the plaque “Sacred Realm of Jiuhua.” In the 31st year of the Qianlong era (1766 AD), an imperial calligraphy plaque “Universal Teaching of the Lotus” was conferred. In the seventh year of the Xianfeng era (1857 AD), the temple was destroyed, leaving only the Scripture Storage Building. In the 16th year of the Guangxu era (1890 AD), abbot Lunfa and lay devotee Liu Hanfang, among others, raised funds to rebuild four halls. In 1926, Venerable Rongxu founded the Jiangnan Jiuhua Mountain Buddhist Academy here. In 1955, the Qingyang County People’s Government renovated the temple. In 1968, all the temple’s Buddha statues were destroyed. In 1981, the temple was restored and converted into the “Jiuhua Mountain Historical Relics Museum,” exhibiting over 1,800 cultural relics. The entire temple complex spans 3,500 square meters. On September 8, 1981, the Anhui Provincial People’s Government designated Huacheng Temple as a Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit. In 1983, the State Council approved Huacheng Temple as a National Key Buddhist Temple in Han Chinese Regions.

Huacheng Temple features a four-courtyard architectural layout. The first courtyard is the Lingguan Hall, which is 16.5 meters deep and five bays wide, with two small wells and side chambers. Its platform is 3.7 meters higher than the ground level. The second courtyard is the Heavenly King Hall, 20 meters wide and 20.5 meters deep, with an open hall and a central drain well, flanked by side corridors on the east and west. The caisson ceiling above the hall is adorned with a ring of painted star panels, resembling a starry sky, showcasing meticulous structure and exquisite design. Its platform is 1.5 meters higher than the first courtyard. The third courtyard is the Mahavira Hall, 20.5 meters deep. The lintel above the hall door features a water-patterned lattice. Originally, plaques inscribed by the last emperor of the Ming Dynasty, Chongzhen, and emperors Kangxi and Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty were hung from the beams, but they were burned to ashes during the Cultural Revolution. The base of the Buddha statue platform at the front of the hall door is made of white marble. Above the center of the Mahavira Hall are three caissons—large, medium, and small—built in the 15th year of the Guangxu era (1889 AD). The large caisson features carvings of eight dragons around its octagonal frame, plus one coiled dragon and a jewel ball at the top, forming the “Nine Dragons Playing with a Pearl.” The nine intertwined dragons face each other, their heads toward the central pearl. The dragons are vividly sculpted, and the pearl shines brilliantly. Inside the hall is a couplet: “May the Buddha lower both hands to touch the hearts of all people equally.” Though Buddha statues vary in form, none have both hands hanging down—a balanced and easily understood verse expressing the wish for the Buddha’s power to bring fairness to all hearts. The final courtyard is a three-story Scripture Storage Tower, 20 meters tall and 14 meters deep, with a platform 2.7 meters higher than the main hall, built during the Ming Dynasty.

Protected Area: Outside the surrounding wall foundation of the temple, extending 2 meters east to the foundation of the Dongya Hotel wall, 2 meters west to the front foundation of Dashajie Alley, south to the commercial street, and north to the hilltop.

Construction Control Zone: 300 meters east, west, and south, and north to the hilltop.

Information Source: Jiuhua Mountain Scenic Area Management Committee

Further Reading:

· Seventh Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units

Jiuhua Mountain

Jiuzi Rock

Jiuhua Mountain Qiyuan Temple

Zhantan Forest

Tiantai Temple

Long’an Temple

Changshou Temple

Diaqiao Temple

Gengliti Hall

Chengren Hall

Jiuhua Mountain Baishou Palace

Jiuhua Mountain Tianzhu Peak Scenic Area

Huixiang Pavilion

Little Tiantai

Tianchi Temple

Huatian Temple