Moshan Temple

Moshan Temple

Moshan Temple is a cultural tourism attraction.

Moshan Temple, located 5 kilometers northwest of Mingguang City, was first built in the late Yuan and early Ming dynasties, covering an area of over 6,000 acres. Historically, it was a sacred destination for mountain worship and Buddhist prayer, attracting throngs of people from nearby villages within a hundred-mile radius to listen to scriptures and offer incense. The temple grounds were once thriving. Moshan boasts a unique geographical location and stunning scenery, with Chishi River to its west, and Dongfeng Lake and Jiaochengwei—both rich in fish and crabs—to its south and north. The entire mountain slopes from south to north and is surrounded by water on three sides. From its summit, one can gaze out at the seamless blend of mountains and waters, where the lake and sky merge into one, creating the sensation of standing on a sailing vessel or lying beside a giant dragon resting quietly in the lake.

Just over a hundred meters from Moshan Temple lies "Erlang Temple," the birthplace of Zhu Yuanzhang, the founding emperor of the Ming Dynasty. Nearby are legendary sites such as the lakeshore where, according to folklore, Zhu Yuanzhang’s mother dried his swaddling cloth—the so-called Diaper Beach—as well as an ancient Ming Dynasty well in front of the temple, whose water remains clear, sweet, and never runs dry.

Legends about Moshan, whether referring to the character “抹” (wipe) or its homophone “摸” (touch), are all tied to the mother of Zhu Yuanzhang. “抹” tells the story of Yang Erlang using his whip to smooth out the rugged, overgrown mountain peak to protect Zhu Yuanzhang’s mother (the rocks on Moshan are all round and smooth). “摸” describes how Zhu Yuanzhang’s pregnant mother, before giving birth to him, walked across the mountain while touching the stones.

After more than 650 years of historical upheaval, destruction, and change—especially bombings during the Japanese invasion in the Anti-Japanese War and later devastation during the Cultural Revolution—the once-splendid ancient Buddhist temple fell into disrepair, reduced to overgrown wilderness. The halls of worship were ruined and the site was used for grazing cattle and raising pigs. Only the Ming Dynasty well still offers fresh, sweet water, and the towering trees continue to flourish in lush abundance.

In 2007, the government decided to restore Moshan Temple. It is hoped that this ancient temple will regain its former glory.