Huxiu Chan Temple

Huxiu Chan Temple

Huxiu Chan Temple is a cultural tourism attraction.

Huxiu Chan Temple

Huxiu Chan Temple is located at the eastern foot of Baogai Mountain in Shishi. To the west stands the towering Gusa Tower on the mountaintop, to the east lies the picturesque Aocheng, and further east of Aocheng is the vast blue expanse of the Taiwan Strait. The tourist attraction “Golden Coast of Southern Fujian,” like a piece of jade, is inlaid along the central western shore of the strait. Huxiu Temple was first built during the Zhenguan era of the Tang Dynasty and was originally named Zhenwu Palace; during the Jiajing era of the Ming Dynasty, a renowned monk named Master Qujing came from Huxiu Temple.

On one occasion, Emperor Jiajing invited him to preach at the grand imperial Daoist ritual known as the Luo Tian Grand Sacrificial Ceremony. His teachings greatly impressed the emperor, who then bestowed the name “Huxiu Chan Temple” upon the temple. Since then, Huxiu Temple, together with Zhenli Temple, Shifo Temple, and Xiziyang, has been celebrated as one of the Four Great Scenic Spots of Southern Quanzhou, and Huxiu Temple was ranked the foremost among them. Later, the temple underwent multiple renovations and expansions, including the addition of the Guan Yu Hall, Wenchang Shrine, twin pagodas, and the temple gate, integrating the main structures with their auxiliary buildings seamlessly.

Huxiu Temple traces its origins to the Zhenguan era of the Tang Dynasty. By the 25th year of the Shaoxing reign in the Southern Song Dynasty, Cai Mengliang, a villager from Tashi, donated funds to “build a sacred shrine,” enshrining the Northern Emperor Xuanwu, and it was named “Zhenwu Palace.” In the 24th year of the Hongwu reign in the Ming Dynasty, it was officially named “Huxiu Temple.” It was not until the Jiajing reign of the Ming Dynasty that the temple received the imperial title “Huxiu Chan Temple” from Emperor Jiajing. The current appearance of the temple is the result of centuries of rise and decline, along with numerous renovations and additions.

The central hall of Huxiu Temple, the Zhenwu Grand Hall, stands an impressive thirty-two feet tall and commands a majestic presence. To the east of the main hall is the Juxing Pavilion and the meditation quarters, with the upper and lower levels of the Juxing Pavilion enshrining Sakyamuni Buddha, the Eighteen Arhats, and the Three Ladies respectively. To the west of the hall is the Guanyin Bodhisattva shrine. In front of the hall’s courtyard is the “Flying Tower,” which overlooks a pond called the “Half Moon Pond.” To the east of the courtyard is the Guan Yu Hall, and to the west is the Siming Treasure Hall. At the back of the main hall, on the mountainside, there is the Wenchang Shrine, dedicated to Wenchang Gong and Kuixing Ye. Numerous deities are enshrined together here, nestled among green shades and verdant peaks, each in its rightful place.

On the western cliff of Huxiu Temple, there are five historical stone inscriptions carved by master calligraphers of past dynasties, forming a precious cultural relic. The massive rocks are imposing, and the cliff inscriptions shine with cultural significance. Lush woods and shaded pine trees grow along the cliffs, while clear springs trickle down through the rocks. Ascending to the temple grounds, one naturally appreciates the exquisite beauty of the landscape; gazing out at the sea and sky fills one with a profound sense of peace and joy.

With its superior location facing the mountain and sea, its magnificent architecture, and its distinctive religious culture, Huxiu Chan Temple continues to attract visitors from all directions. It remains a rare and treasured tourist destination in the hometown of overseas Chinese, Shishi.