Qingle Temple

Qingle Temple

Qingle Temple, located at the northern foot of Yanshan Mountain in Xindian Village, Chidian Town, Jinjiang City, has an uncertain date of establishment. It is now a municipal (county-level) cultural relics protection unit. The temple was originally a two-story pavilion, with the upper floor enshrining the Goddess of Mercy (Guanyin) and the lower floor housing a stele inscribed with the phrase “Looking up to Lofty Ideals,” hence its initial name “Gaoshan Pavilion.”

In the 22nd year of the Daoguang reign (1842), Monk Xingqin raised funds for renovations, and the temple was renamed to its current name. In the 27th year of the Guangxu reign (1901), with the support of benefactors from all directions and under the leadership of Nun Lai Su, along with planning assistance from Monks Zhuanchu and Huiquan, the old structure was dismantled and expanded. A single-eave, hip-and-gable roofed hall with three bays and two courtyards was constructed, along with additional wing rooms. Since then, Qingle Temple began to take shape, attracting more devotees. The monks engaged in farming, establishing a tradition that balanced spiritual practice with agriculture. In 1956, the temple was renovated again, with additional side rooms built and a communal stupa (Putong Pagoda) erected. In 1966, the temple was destroyed. In 1987, Venerable Hongchuan, Vice President of the World Buddhist Sangha Council and Abbot of Puguang Temple on Bright Hill in Singapore, funded its reconstruction, restoring the temple to its former glory.

In 1993, Venerable Xiangyuan, following the wishes of Venerable Hongchuan, took charge of Qingle Temple and began expanding it. He established an overall plan for the temple in accordance with Buddhist monastic systems. The temple now covers nearly 200 acres, featuring a grand scale and beautiful surroundings. Major structures include the Heavenly King Hall, Mahavira Hall, Great Compassion Hall, Dharma Teaching Complex Building, monastic quarters, as well as the Ancestral Stupa and Deguan Tower (a columbarium). The resident monastic community consists of nearly 20 monks. In April 1999, the headquarters of the Jinjiang Buddhist Association was relocated to Qingle Temple. In 2005, the Quanzhou Buddhist Academy moved to Qingle Temple, making it one of the key centers for training Buddhist talent in southern Fujian.

Qingle Temple continues to improve in scale and refine its management systems. While strengthening its own development, the temple actively fulfills its role by upholding the Buddhist tradition of “saving the world, aiding the distressed, and encouraging kindness,” vigorously promoting the spirit of “Humanistic Buddhism.” It is deeply involved in tangible social welfare initiatives such as poverty alleviation, disaster relief, student support, and assistance for the disabled. Hundreds of thousands of yuan are allocated annually to charitable causes, contributing positively to the building of a harmonious socialist society.

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