Xin'an Chan Temple

Xin'an Chan Temple

Xin'an Chan Temple is a cultural tourism attraction.

Initially named Wenshu Thatched Hut, also known as "Xin'an Chan Temple" and commonly referred to as "Liumu Tian" (Six Mu Field), Xin'an Temple is located on the eastern foothills of Jiuhua Mountain, a renowned Buddhist mountain. It is one of the 52 key protected temples in Anhui Province. To its south lies Huangshan’s Taiping Lake, to the east the Tongling Yangtze River Bridge, and to the north Highway 318. It is less than 20 kilometers from Qingyang County. The temple sits at an altitude of 800–1000 meters, surrounded by high mountains, with jagged peaks, bamboo forests like seas, and ancient maple trees towering above. The environment is tranquil and the climate pleasant. Within a three- to four-square-kilometer area around the temple, there are over 10 scenic spots to explore, many of which have legends associated with immortals, earning it the reputation of a "fairyland on earth."

The Wenshu Thatched Hut was first built in the early Ming Dynasty. In the 28th year of the Guangxu reign during the Qing Dynasty, a monk named Zhimiao from Cuifeng Temple came here and, seeing that the hut had collapsed, purchased six mu of land for eight silver dollars to rebuild the hermitage—hence the nickname "Liumu Tian" (Six Mu Field). Later, the halls were expanded and the temple was renamed "Xin'an Chan Temple." Successive abbots included Monk Chuangben, followed by Monk Haiming in 1933, Monk Xingguang in 1936—by which time the temple had reached the scale of a major monastic complex. Monk Haide took over in 1943, followed by Monk Hailiang. From 1966 to 1985, Monk Daxing served as abbot, succeeded by Monk Daolin from 1985 to 1988. From 1988 to 1996, Monk Yanfa was in charge, and since 1996, the abbot has been Monk Yanhui. The current abbot, Master Yanhui, whose secular name is Jin Zhenming, is from Jingdezhen, Jiangxi. He became a monk at the age of 18 at Yangfu Ancient Temple in Fuliang County and received full monastic ordination at Zhengru Chan Temple on Yunju Mountain in Jiangxi in October 1994. Since 1998, he has managed Xin'an Temple at "Liumu Tian." During his tenure, he not only connected the temple to the power grid, running water, and telephone lines, but also oversaw the construction of a 4-kilometer mountain road from Tianzhu Bridge to "Liumu Tian." The new road has not only facilitated pilgrimages but also played a positive role in developing tourism resources in the rear of Jiuhua Mountain and boosting the local economy.

The existing temple structures were built in 1933 in the form of a traditional three-courtyard residential complex. At the center is the Mahavira Hall, facing east, a two-story building with a hip-and-gable roof. It measures 20.5 meters in length, 10.8 meters in width, and 7.5 meters in height, with a floor area of 442.8 square meters. The ground floor houses the main hall, where statues of Sakyamuni Buddha, the Eighteen Arhats, and various bodhisattvas are enshrined. The second floor is the "Three Saints Hall." Symmetrically arranged in front of the main hall are the Cloud-Water Hall and the Meditation Hall, also two-story buildings. The total built-up area of the temple is 1,191 square meters.

Although the temple was established just over a hundred years ago, through the dedicated efforts of eight successive abbots, it has grown into a large temple complex with a total built-up area of 1,100 square meters. Its main structure is the Mahavira Hall, complemented by the Guanyin Hall, Sangharama Hall, and Kṣitigarbha Hall, along with over 40 auxiliary rooms including guest quarters, meditation halls, dining halls, and monks’ cells. At its peak, the temple reportedly housed fifty resident monks and three hundred wandering monastics. However, this prosperity did not last. Due to warlord conflicts in Anhui and widespread chaos, the temple fell into decline starting from the mid-Republic period, with few worshippers and dwindling incense offerings. By the eve of liberation, it was dilapidated and nearly abandoned. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, the government implemented religious policies and strengthened maintenance and management, enabling the temple to recover and gradually revive. Especially after the Third Plenary Session of the 11th CPC Central Committee, the temple seized opportunities brought by reform and opening up, built connections, raised funds, and renovated the main halls. The Eighteen Arhats statues were recast and gilded; a new hall was built to accommodate fifty monks for morning chanting; electricity was installed in the temple for the first time; cassette recorders appeared in monks’ cells and dining halls; the resident monastic population gradually increased, ending the former desolate days; monks practiced both farming and meditation, receiving monthly stipends for a stable life; and since the 1990s, two monks have even been elected as county political advisors to participate in national affairs... The temple gained even greater renown and international fame after Master Baisheng, who resided at Xin'an Temple for many years, was elected President of the World Buddhist Sangha Council in 1981 (he passed away in 1989 at Linji Huguo Temple in Taipei).

The architectural layout of Xin'an Temple is exquisitely chosen and ingeniously designed. Nestled against the mountain and beside the water, it faces east with its back to the west. Though appearing as a two-story structure from the outside, it is actually a single-story building with a high ceiling inside. Except for the pure walls on both sides of the mountain gate, the rest of the enclosing walls cleverly double as part of the halls, making efficient use of space. The exterior walls are light yellow, the tiles purplish-brown, with upturned eaves and carved beams, giving the temple a majestic and ancient feel. The Mahavira Hall stands prominently at the rear of the complex, with monks’ quarters lining the side halls. The four Chinese characters “Xin’an Chan Temple,” written in bold square Song typeface and painted red, are prominently embedded above the mountain gate. Towering ancient maples and expansive bamboo groves encircle the temple, adding to its serene and mysterious aura. Viewed from above, the temple resembles both a traditional southern Anhui-style mountain villa and an elegant, refined, and classic boutique retreat.

Xin'an Chan Temple is surrounded and accentuated by natural landscapes and historical sites such as the Hundred-Zhang Pool Waterfall, Tianzhu Fairy Trail, Ancient Jiayu Pond, Ancient Fishing Terrace, and Tianzhu Pavilion. Layered peaks and vibrant colors create a picturesque scene. Birds in the forest seem to recite poetry through the ages, while clouds drift gracefully over the mountaintops, resembling exquisite paintings. It is an ideal destination for meditation, enlightenment, spiritual cultivation, and travel.