Tianhu Mountain, Jian’ou

Tianhu Mountain, Jian’ou

Ten kilometers northwest of Jian’ou, a solitary mountain rises abruptly, lush with pines and bamboos, standing out among the surrounding peaks—this is Tianhu Mountain.

Tianhu Mountain features steep slopes, winding paths, and a terrain shaped like a lotus petal. Upon reaching the summit, you’ll suddenly come upon a basin surrounded by higher ground and a flat, open center, home to fertile fields and a small lake. Perhaps this is how Tianhu Mountain got its name. Around the basin, tall pines and cypresses stand upright, bamboos cluster in vibrant green, and mixed forests layer in rich hues, creating a tranquil and elegant environment. Within the basin lies a spring that never dries up year-round. The mountain spring is as white as condensed milk and tastes as sweet as fine liquor. Commonly known as Fanjiang Spring, it’s said to be where the Buddha poured rice sweat—an old folk tale with little basis in fact. Still, it’s quite a wonder.

Today, Tianhu Mountain is home to Yuantong Temple, formerly known as Lafo An. According to the Jian’ou County Annals, during the Song Dynasty, a recluse named Huang Shuixin built a dwelling here. Huang Shuixin, also named Miao, once earned a recommendation from Jingde Township and was well-read. After the fall of the Song Dynasty, he refused to serve the new regime in admiration of the noble integrity of Bo Yi and Shu Qi. It’s also recorded that Zhao Yan, a prefectural head of the Song Dynasty, visited and composed the line “The beautiful scenery of Tianhu, sixty-six in all.” The mountain is said to have thirty-six scenic spots, including Twin Rainbow Spring, Kongcui Pavilion, and Zizhi An, all part of its highlights. However, these were all destroyed during wars in the Jianyan era. As recorded in the Stele Inscription for the Reconstruction of Yuantong Temple on Tianhu Mountain by Weng Henian: “After the temple was ravaged by war in the Xianfeng period of the Qing Dynasty, fortunately, one remaining simple structure stood. But due to the enormity of the reconstruction project, it was left unattended. He Shanxian, a philanthropist from Guangzhou surnamed He, was moved by the intention to rebuild... and donated 3,000 taels of silver. The reconstruction was completed in the 15th year of the Bingyin reign (1866 AD)... The temple now stands solemn and majestic, resplendent in gold and splendor. Above the corridors are multi-storied pavilions; beside the Buddha halls are memorial shrines. Outside the temple walls lies a guesthouse, bright and tidy, and a small garden with a pond where flowers and bamboos are planted. A pool of Jade Spring offers water for brewing tea. Tea steam drifts over the mats, evoking thoughts of a world beyond.”

However, as time passed and the world changed, especially during the Cultural Revolution, the gates and walls of Yuantong Temple were almost completely destroyed, Buddha statues were smashed, utensils were scattered, and only the bare frame of the Mahavira Hall remained, while other halls turned into ruins.

In 1978, monks Shi Jueming and Shi Dajin successively entered the temple to restore it. The following year, Shi Zeshun took over as abbot and undertook major renovations. Over the next fifteen years, the Mahavira Hall was restored, and the Heavenly King, Amitabha, and Sangharama Halls were rebuilt, along with two guest halls, two columbarium towers, and an 18-meter-long, 10-meter-wide single-eave Thousand Buddha Bridge, complete with a hexagonal pavilion at the bridgehead. Now, the temple is filled with vivid, golden-glowing Buddha statues. To make it easier for visitors to reach the mountain, the city transportation bureau and Mafen Village jointly built a mountain road leading directly to the front of the temple.

In ancient times, worshippers flocked here every June, and today, visitors come in an endless stream.

Qing Dynasty’s Jiang Heng once remarked: “In the past, I traveled to Wuyi and fell in love with the misty waters and lofty rocks, the secluded valleys and their wonders. Thus, I called myself the Cloud-Shrouded Mountain Hermit. But the distance made frequent visits impossible. One day, if I were to choose a retreat, it would be between Meiyang and Tianhu, though Tianhu is even better—thus, I called myself the Tianhu Mountain Hermit.” This shows that Tianhu Mountain has long been a place people yearned for.

Source: Office of the People's Government of Jian’ou City