Ruins of Chan Guo Temple

Ruins of Chan Guo Temple

The ruins of Chan Guo Temple are a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Chan Guo Temple is located under Ding Jin Rock in Sigou Village, Huoshui Township, western Wu'an City, Hebei Province, 35 kilometers from downtown Wu'an. It was first built in the third year of Huangchu during the reign of Emperor Wen of Wei (222 AD), boasting a history of over 1,760 years.

When first built, Ding Jin Rock Chan Guo Temple was small in scale. It wasn’t until the first year of Tongguang during the reign of Emperor Zhuangzong of Tang (924 AD) that large-scale construction took place. After multiple expansions and reconstructions, the temple gradually grew in size. The temple site is situated amid steep mountain terrain. In those days, lush pines and cypresses flourished, the Buddha’s palace was magnificent, eminent monks frequented the area, and visitors were constant. Its splendid scenery was recorded on stone tablets.

The prosperity of Chan Guo Temple lasted until the end of the Qing Dynasty. By the eve of the War of Resistance Against Japan, there were still over 20 monks in the temple. In 1943, the monks dispersed, and the temple was subsequently destroyed. Today, only 19 stone stelae remain, among which the following are of research value: the “Thousand Buddha Town Stele for the Renovation of Ding Jin Rock Chan Monastery” from the Tiancheng era of the Later Tang Dynasty during the Five Dynasties period, commonly known as the “Translucent Stele”; two cursive script steles by Zhang Jingxin of the Ming Dynasty, which are treasures for the study of Chinese calligraphy art. There are also five stone Buddhist statues, including statues of the Three Ages of Buddhas and a three-headed, six-armed Buddha. In the middle of this rock is a four-cornered, three-tiered square stone pagoda built in the fifth year of the Jiajing era of the Ming Dynasty. Each tier is hollow, with shallow carvings inside and out, standing 14 meters tall. Beneath Ding Jin Rock lies a small bridge called “Black Dragon Bridge,” a structure from the Ming Dynasty. At the foot of the mountain is also a Ming Dynasty Linggu Pagoda Forest, an ancient burial site for monks.

The ruins of Ding Jin Rock Chan Guo Temple are a Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit of Hebei Province and an important part of the artistic heritage of the Northern Qi cultural zone. It has now become one of the eighteen scenic spots in the developed Jingniang Lake Scenic Area and is well worth a visit.

Scenic Area Address: Under Ding Jin Rock, Sigou Village, Huoshui Township, Wu'an City, Hebei Province

Transportation: Take a bus from Wu'an to Jingniang Lake and get off at Kou Shang Village en route.

Further Reading:

· Seventh Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units