Shifeng Temple

Shifeng Temple

Shifeng Temple is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Shifeng Temple. Also known as Shifeng Guanghua Chan Temple, it is located at the foot of Shifeng Mountain in Baizhuyang, Fu’an City, about 30 kilometers from the county town. The temple was first built in the first year of the Tang Dynasty’s Jingfu era (892 AD), originally on the mountaintop, but was relocated here during the Yongle era of the Ming Dynasty (1403–1424). According to records, Emperor Wuzong of the Ming Dynasty once visited the temple, personally inscribed its plaque with the words “Shifeng Guanghua Chan Forest,” and even wrote a poem that includes the lines “The fish startle guests as shadows ripple in the square pond; the wind comes from the bamboo halfway up the mountain.” It was renovated during the Jiaqing era of the Qing Dynasty (1796–1820). The temple complex covers an area of 13,000 square meters, faces east and is backed by mountains, with majestic architecture that has endured for a thousand years.

Legend has it that in ancient times, an old monk traveled far and wide and saw this place surrounded by mountains that seemed to bow in reverence, with streams flowing like white silk around the hills. Among them stood a mountain that resembled a majestic lion, towering above the peaks with grand presence, inspiring the monk to build a temple there. So, under the cover of night, the old monk moved a incense burner and placed it at the doorstep of a family surnamed Lin. The next morning, the owner moved the burner elsewhere; but when he opened his door the following day, the burner had returned. This happened for several days, leaving the Lin family puzzled. Suddenly, they heard the sound of a wooden fish and saw an old monk approaching. They asked for his guidance, and the monk said, “This is the Buddha’s will—you must donate your home to build a temple.” The Lin family then donated all their land and houses in Baizhuyang to the temple project. After the temple was completed, the Lin family asked the Buddha where they should settle. Following divine guidance, the entire family floated down the Qianyang Stream on bamboo rafts, passed through Saiqi, crossed Baimamen, and eventually ran aground at Qidu in Ningde, where they settled permanently. It is said that Lin Cong, a Ming Dynasty scholar-official who rose to become Minister of Justice, was a descendant of this Lin family.

Shifeng Temple consists of four main structures along a central axis: the Heavenly King Hall, the Mahavira Hall, the Dharma Hall, and the Guanyin Pavilion. These major buildings are symmetrically flanked by other structures, creating a well-balanced, classic, and elegant layout that reflects the architectural style of the late Tang Dynasty. Upon entering the richly carved Heavenly King Hall, visitors are greeted by the laughing, bare-bellied Maitreya and solemn statues of bodhisattvas and heavenly kings. Passing through the archway, one sees a solemn statue of Skanda (Weituo) standing at the back. Stepping through the courtyard and ascending the steps leads to the magnificent Mahavira Hall. From the front of the Mahavira Hall, the roof ridges of the Heavenly King Hall appear in three tiers, resembling a tower and exuding grandeur. Inside the Mahavira Hall, incense smoke lingers and every corner is spotless, making it a true sanctuary. The hall is over 13 meters deep, more than 10 meters wide, and 14 meters high. It is supported by 24 square granite pillars, eight of which have a circumference of 2.2 meters and stand over 5 meters tall, bearing the wooden roof beams. An additional 16 stone pillars, with a circumference of 11.8 meters, support the upturned eaves. The beams, brackets, and walls around the hall are intricately carved with various patterns. Standing inside, one can see the interlocking brackets and orderly beams supporting the hexagonal caisson ceiling in the center, adorned with vividly painted dragons and phoenixes. Though faded by time, the patterns still hint at their former glory. The hall features a double-eaved hip-and-gable roof with a lifted-beam wooden structure, similar in style to the main hall of Fuzhou’s Hualin Temple. The outer eaves display over 200 camel-hump-shaped rafters neatly arranged, reminiscent of Song Dynasty architecture.

Behind the Mahavira Hall lies the Dharma Hall. This single-eaved hip-and-gable wooden structure is 13 meters deep and 9 meters high. Flanking the Dharma Hall are gardens, monks’ quarters, guest rooms, and a kitchen. In December 1933, over 150 farmer representatives from Fu’an and Xiapu held a meeting here under the leadership of Zhan Rubai, Ye Fei, and Zeng Zhi. The meeting led to the establishment of the Min Dong Red Ribbon General Association and a Soviet government, marking the beginning of land reform in the region. After the liberation, the Fu’an County Civil Affairs Department erected a monument here for protection.

Behind the Dharma Hall is the Guanyin Pavilion, in front of which lies a clear pond stocked with red carp. The pond is surrounded by camellias, peonies, and wintersweet flowers. Next to the Guanyin Pavilion stands a thousand-year-old cypress tree, 14 meters tall, with vigorous new growth sprouting from its ancient trunk. According to temple monks, the tree existed before the temple was built. A Ming Dynasty official from Ningde, Chen Bao, once visited and wrote a poem: “My horse briefly rests at the pine gate; the monks’ hospitality rivals the mountain air. Mountain trees show their first hints of color beyond the clouds; courtyard blossoms vie to bloom through the rain. The wish for prosperity rides the southern breeze; by the willows, I envy the leisure of youth. Gazing westward to the far peaks, my sorrowful heart seeks solace in the view.”

Shifeng Temple faces the picturesque landscape of Baizhuyang’s Thirty-Six Villages and Baizhu Reservoir. To the south lies the ancient banyan spectacle of Koutou Village, which connects with cultural sites such as the Five Grains Immortal Palace, Xingyun Temple, and Fulv Temple. This area is also one of the birthplaces of the Min Dong revolutionary movement. It offers not only natural beauty but also a profound lesson in revolutionary heritage.

Further Reading:

· Sixth Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units