Qingshuiyan Temple

Qingshuiyan Temple

Qingshuiyan Temple is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Qingshuiyan is located on Penglai Mountain in Penglai Town, Anxi County. Formerly known as Zhangyan Mountain, it boasts picturesque scenery with clear waters and lush mountains, offering serene and pristine views. The main peak rises to an elevation of 767 meters and is often shrouded in vast mist and drifting clouds, resembling a "fairyland on Penglai."

Qingshuiyan Temple is situated 500 meters below the main peak of Penglai. It was first established by the Northern Song Dynasty monk Puzu. The temple complex is built along the mountain, with its back against a lion-shaped dragon vein and facing a deep ravine. In the distance, three peaks known as the “Scholar’s Pens” stand guard, while the surrounding area is embraced by the peaks of Penglai. Monk Puzu resided here for nineteen years, during which he “constructed the Tongquan Bridge, the Gukou Bridge, the Taikou Bridge, and paved the road to Yangzhong Pavilion, expending huge sums, funded by donations.” He also built Yangzhong Pavilion as a free clinic for treating the sick and saving lives. After eighteen years of fundraising and construction, the temple complex was completed. On the thirteenth day of the fifth month in the first year of the Jianzhong Jingguo era (1101), Monk Puzu passed away. The locals carved a statue from agarwood and enshrined it in the temple, honoring him as the Qingshui Ancestor. From the Southern Song Dynasty's Jingyan era (1277) to modern times, Qingshuiyan has undergone over thirty instances of continued construction, reconstruction, expansion, renovation, and repair. The temple structure is designed in a pavilion style, consisting of three levels: the first level is the Haotiankou, the second level is the Ancestor Hall, and the third level is the Sakyamuni Building. Bell and drum towers, the Donor’s Shrine, the Guanyin Hall, the Hall of Renowned Names, and monks’ quarters are situated on the east and west sides. The grand and winding pavilions overlap in layers, and when viewed from afar, the overall appearance resembles the Chinese character “帝” (emperor), presenting a majestic and imposing sight. It is said that there were ninety-nine rooms, but the current structures date back to the Ming and Qing dynasties as well as the modern era. The mountain gate stands at the scenic area by the Yangzhong Heqian Bridge, featuring a three-gate, memorial archway-style building, newly constructed after autumn 1998. The central gate is 5.5 meters high and 4.00 meters wide, while the side gates are each 5.00 meters high and 1.8 meters wide. The roof is covered with glazed tiles, and the upturned eaves reach a total height of 8 meters, giving it a solemn and magnificent presence. The stone archway is inscribed with the plaque “Qingshuiyan,” written by Professor Yu Yu, a calligrapher from the China Buddhist Academy, along with the couplet: “Worship amidst a thousand Buddhas; share in the spring of all directions.” To the left of the mountain gate is the “Clear Pearl Curtain,” where, on the cliffs beside the path, pearls of water drip from the rocks during spring and summer. When sunlight hits them, they look like colorful pearl curtains hanging down.

The scenic area is dotted with many wonders, cultural relics, and historic sites. First is the Pilgrimage Stairway, consisting of 108 steps. Each side is lined with 36 granite pillars, with their tops carved with the twelve zodiac animals. Devotees and visitors are invited to touch the animal corresponding to their zodiac sign as they ascend, symbolizing “sincerity brings blessings” and “rising step by step.” Along the Pilgrimage Stairway, you’ll find the Emerging Water Rock, Haihui Garden, Three Loyal Temples, the Tree That Leans Northward, the Enlightenment Pavilion, the Proclamation Terrace, the Rock Map Stele, the Arhat Pine, the Sacred Spring, the Square Mirror Pond, and the Split Bamboo. Passing through the Qingshui Gate and the Stone Basin, you’ll arrive at the Penglai Ancestral Hall. The central hall’s shrine is built atop a massive rock, beneath which lies a deep and mysterious cave known as the “Lion’s Throat.” Behind the ancestral hall, on the rock, lies the Song Dynasty “Vacuum Pagoda,” which houses the ashes of the Qingshui Ancestor. To the left of the Vacuum Pagoda is the “Heaven-Peering Ancient Camphor Tree.” Not far from the Heaven-Peering Ancient Camphor Tree, in the woods, lies the “Sword-Testing Rock.” Other attractions include the Dragon-Overlooking Pavilion, Qingshui Villa, and the Dragon Palace. Among these, the most eye-catching is the Tree That Leans Northward. This ancient camphor tree, so large that seven children holding hands can’t encircle it, is said to have all its branches and leaves stretching northward since the early Southern Song Dynasty. This phenomenon is attributed to the tree being moved by the martyrdom of the anti-Jin Dynasty hero Yue Fei, who was wronged by the treacherous Qin Hui, thus expressing mourning and reverence. The most precious item is the “Rock Map Stele,” a Song Dynasty bas-relief carving depicting the architectural layout and overall plan of Qingshuiyan Temple. It has served as the blueprint for subsequent constructions and renovations throughout history and is extremely rare in China. The Qingshuiyan scenic area is scattered with over twenty cliff inscriptions, dating from the Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties to modern times. The scripts include seal, clerical, regular, and running scripts, with regular and running scripts being the most common. At the highest point of the scenic area, there are also four stone stalagmites that rise abruptly from the ground, rugged and strikingly beautiful. Starting from the Penglai Heqian Bridge, you’ll also encounter various uniquely shaped rocks and stones along the way, such as the Half-Hill Pavilion, Border Protection Palace, Kasaya Rock, Mortar Rock, Stone Rooster, and Stone Dog. The natural scenery is truly breathtaking, making visitors feel as if they’ve stepped into a “Penglai fairyland.”

Further Reading:

· Seventh Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units