Fengshan Temple

Fengshan Temple

Fengshan Temple is a national AAA-level tourist attraction and a cultural tourism site.

Fengshan Temple, originally named Guoshan Temple, also known as General Temple or Weizhen Temple, is located at the foot of Fengshan Mountain in the northwest corner of Shishan Town, Nan'an, Quanzhou. It was built in the early Tianfu era of the Later Jin Dynasty during the Five Dynasties period (936–947 AD) and enshrines Guosheng King.

Guosheng King, whose secular name was Guo Zhongfu, was a native of Guoshan in Shishan. He was born on the twelfth day of the eighth month in the third year of the Tianfu era of the Later Jin Dynasty (938 AD). Legend has it that Guo Zhongfu came from a farming background, lost his father at the age of seven, herded cattle to support his mother, and was known as a filial son in the village. Due to his hard work from a young age, he eventually died of exhaustion in the wilderness. Later generations, in recognition of his filial piety, built a temple to worship him as a deity. People would consult the deity for omens throughout the seasons and worshipped him with the honors of a general, hence Guoshan Temple is also called General Temple. During the Shaoxing era of Emperor Gaozong of the Southern Song Dynasty (1131–1162 AD), he was bestowed the title “Noble King Who Pacifies the Vast Expanse” and the temple was granted the plaque “Weizhen Temple.” By the 16th year of Jiading era of Emperor Ningzong of the Song Dynasty (1223 AD), villagers expanded the temple, completing its main hall, side chambers, corridors, courtyards, and steps. In the early Kaqing era of Emperor Lizong of the Song Dynasty (1259 AD), he was further honored with the title “Mighty and Heroic Noble King of the Vast Expanse,” and a temple was constructed in his honor. Because the terrain of Guoshan resembles a dancing phoenix, the temple was renamed “Fengshan Temple” (Phoenix Mountain Temple). Over the next three hundred years, though the structure endured wind and rain and underwent repairs, the temple complex saw no major expansions or renovations.

The scale of Fengshan Temple is 16 zhang in length and 1.4 zhang in width. The temple complex consists of three halls arranged front to back. The main (central) hall is 1.8 zhang high, with one chamber on each side. The eastern side chamber houses statues of the Noble King and the Noble Queen, situated at the spot where he was said to have transformed from an ancient vine. Behind this chamber lies the inner sanctum. The western side chamber enshrines golden statues of Sakyamuni and the South Sea Guanyin. The front hall is 1.85 zhang high, with the Noble King enshrined at the center, flanked by Chongde Marquis, Xianyou Marquis, Huang Taiwei, and General Chen, who were all credited with meritorious service to the king. The temple buildings are interspersed with courtyards and enclosed by walls. There are over 30 auxiliary rooms on both sides of the wall complex, serving as living quarters for monks. The temple gate is 1.4 zhang high, with a plaque inscribed “Fengshan Scenic View” by Yan Tingqu, a successful candidate in the imperial examinations from Yongchun during the Ming Dynasty. Inside the gate stands a massive rock, standing steep and lofty like a cloud of hair, which people liken to the phoenix’s coiffure. Outside the gate, bricks are laid out to form a courtyard, with winding stone steps leading out.

Shishan Town: Known as China’s Umbrella City, Shishan Town is located in the northwest of Nan'an City, at the junction of Nan'an, Yongchun, and Anxi counties (cities). It covers an area of 96.2 square kilometers and governs 18 village committees and one neighborhood committee. The town has a population of 86,000, with 160,000 overseas Chinese and compatriots from Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan residing abroad. The area enjoys a mild climate year-round with abundant rainfall. Shishan has a long history and is a land of outstanding people. As early as before the Tang Dynasty, it was known as Mountain Head City. Zhu Xi, a Neo-Confucian scholar of the Southern Song Dynasty, praised the area where Ouyang Zhan—who “pioneered the literary culture of Fujian”—once studied on Gaogai Mountain, leaving behind numerous poems and writings. Zhu Xi remarked, “This is Shishan...” Detailed information about Shishan Town++